MPO-listed teachers participating in the ongoing movement have rejected the appeal of Education Adviser Professor Dr CR Abrar to return to classes. The adviser made the call on Sunday after the Finance Ministry issued an order granting a house rent allowance of 5 percent of the basic salary (minimum Tk 2,000) to teachers.

However, the teachers announced that they will intensify their programmes from Monday (October 20), rejecting the adviser’s appeal. They warned that, if necessary, they would lock educational institutions and march to Dhaka en masse.

Delawar Hossain Azizi, Secretary of the MPO-Listed Education Nationalization Expectant Alliance, said, “We do not agree with the call from the Education Adviser. We have rejected the 5% notification. Teachers will not return to classes under any circumstances without assurance of a 20% increase.”

He added, “Until now, we have been carrying out sit-ins and hunger strikes. This time, we will launch a fast unto death. A teachers’ gathering will also be held today, where hundreds of thousands of teachers from across the country are expected to participate. We are conducting our movement peacefully. If any attacks occur on teachers, the government will be held responsible.”

In September, the Finance Ministry approved a Tk 500 rise in the house rent allowance, which the teachers rejected, calling it “insufficient.”

On October 12, teachers across the country joined a protest in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Police used water cannons, sound grenades, and batons to disperse them. They later moved to Central Shaheed Minar, where they protested the police action and announced a countrywide work abstention from the following day.