Non-MPO teachers, employees end hunger strike

Non-MPO teachers, employees end hunger strike
Non-MPO teachers, employees end hunger strike

Teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions on Wednesday broke their hunger strike upon government assurance that their demand of enlisting their institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme would be met, reports UNB.

National professor Anisuzzaman and former adviser to a caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury went to the teachers demonstrating in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 3:30pm and offered them water to break the fast.

Professor Anisuzzaman said, "The prime minister came up with an announcement over the demand of the teachers at parliament recently. Hopefully the problem will soon be resolved."

On 4 July, prime minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament that the government would take a scheme soon to bring educational institutions under the MPO following a recently formulated policy.

Meanwhile, Binoy Bhusan Roy, general secretary of Non-MPO Educational Institutions Teachers' and Employees' Federation, said, "In the morning five representatives of the protesting teachers met the education minister when he assured us of granting our demand and said the ministry has already started discussion with the finance ministry over the issue."

The teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions went on an indefinite hunger strike under the banner of Non-MPO Educational Institutions Teachers' and Employees' Federation in front of the Jatiya Press Club on 25 June.

On 31 December last year, they had started observing fast unto death but ended the strike on 5 January after getting assurance from the PM.

As there were no specific budgetary allocation for the 2018-2019 fiscal year in this regard, they started fresh agitations.