MPO teachers suspend their 'Long March to Jamuna' prog

Agitating teachers of MPO-listed educational institutions suspended their scheduled 'Long March to Jamuna.

Instead, they announced a 24-hour non-stop sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar and an indefinite hunger strike to press home their demands including a 20 per cent hike in housing allowance.

The announcement was made by the leaders of the agitating teachers at a gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday evening.

Earlier, the teachers announced the 'march towards the Chief Advisor's Jamuna residence.

However, they announced that all classes and exams at educational institutions would remain suspended until their demands are met.

Addressing the gathering, Member Secretary of the Alliance for Nationalization of Education Delowar Hossain Azizi said: "For today, we are suspending the March towards Jamuna."

He went on: "From tomorrow at 2:0 PM, we will begin our hunger strike. If our demands are still ignored, we will go on a fast unto death. If needed, our bodies will not return alive, only our corpses will. We will not compromise with our rights."

He further announced that all academic activities in educational institutions across the country would come to a complete halt from Sunday.

Earlier on the day, a 16-member delegation of the agitating teachers had a meeting with the Education Advisor at the Ministry of Education.

Following the meeting, the teachers accused the advisor of making a 'mockery of the dialogue' with them.

They also warned that they would go for tougher agitation programmes including boycotting classes unless their demands are met.

Talking to the press after the gathering meeting, Mr. Azizi mentioned that the government had just proposed a 5.0 per cent increase in housing allowance and made no mention of other benefits.

He said, "During the meeting, we proposed an immediate 10 per cent hike and another 10 per cent increase in the next budget.

But the Education Advisor made no commitment to the demands, he said, adding: "That that's why we believe the meeting was just eyewash."

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