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A prolonged teachers' strike ended Tuesday on a 15-percent house-rent allowance raise finally approved by the head of interim government.
Bangladesh's economy-"devastated by 15 years of rampant corruption and plunder"-has not yet regained the capacity to afford the 20-percent increase demanded by the teachers, said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, according to a spokesman for the CA Office.
"Therefore, the government has had to take this decision in the light of the existing economic realities," the CA said, noting though that the economy now got revitalised under the interim government' rule since last yea's uprising that brought about regime change.
The Chief Adviser made it clear that the interim government considers the demands of the MPO-listed teachers and employees justified.
The interim government has decided to increase the house- rent allowance of MPO-listed teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions by 15 per cent in two phases - 7.5 per cent of their basic salary, effective from 1 November 1 this year, and another 7.5 per cent from July next year.
The Chief Adviser expressed his special thanks to Education Adviser Professor C. R. Abrar and all others concerned for their tireless efforts in dealing with the entrenched agitations.
He also expressed the hope that the teachers who have been protesting would now return to their classrooms with renewed vigour and contribute to shaping the country's future generations.
Satisfied at the announcement, the teachers, meanwhile, withdrew their protest programme with a call for all to go back to classroom.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has held a series of meetings over the past few days with various advisers to discuss the demands of MPO-listed teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions across the country for a solution.
Among those present were Education Adviser Professor Dr C. R. Abrar, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, and Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud.
Teachers and employees from non-government educational institutions listed under the MPO (Monthly Pay Order) scheme called off their long-running movement as the government raised their house-rent allowance.
The declaration was made by Member-Secretary of the MPO Teachers and Employees' Movement Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi following a negotiated solution to the standoff over government's previous announcement.
Finally, the government raised the allowance for the teachers and employees of MPO-listed non-government educational institutions to 15 per cent, to be effective in two goes.
According to a Ministry of Finance order, they will receive 7.5 per cent, with a minimum of Tk 2,000, from November 1, rising to 15 per cent, also with a minimum of Tk 2,000, from July 1 next year.
Earlier in the day, the Finance Ministry sent a letter to the Education Ministry informing it of the decision on rent hike.
Education Adviser CR Abrar then handed over a copy of the rent-allowance- increase order to the teacher leaders.
Azizi said, "We called off our movement successfully. We had three major demands such as a 20-percent house-rent increase, Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and 75-percent festival allowance for employees. Our main focus was on the house rent. When the government first announced only a 5.0-percent increase, we expressed our dissatisfaction. But now the official decision to raise it by 15 per cent marks a major success for us."
He added: "We have compromised on the issue of medical allowanced... As of now, no notification has been issued regarding the festival allowance for employees."
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