The Ministry of Finance has provided a written assurance to upgrade the posts of government primary school assistant teachers to 11th grade in the shortest possible time.
In response, protesting teachers have called off their protests, agreeing to suspend all demonstrations provided that the Pay Commission implements the upgrade soon.
The announcement was made by teacher leaders after a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Finance at the Secretariat on Monday. Sources from these ministries have also confirmed the development.
The teacher delegation at the meeting included Abul Kashem, Shamsuddin Masud, Mahbubur Rahman, and Kamrunnahar Lipi, among others.
Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana and Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder represented the government.
The teachers’ protest had begun last Saturday when four teacher organisations united under the banner of the “Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parshad” to hold a sit-in at Shaheed Minar.
Their key demands included a 10th-grade salary scale, higher grades for service in the 10th and 16th years, and a guarantee of 100% departmental promotions.
On Saturday afternoon, during a “pen drop” protest at Shahbagh, police dispersed the teachers, injuring over 200, with more than 100 receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Five teachers were detained for questioning.
In response to the arrests, the teachers announced a nationwide work abstention in all primary schools that evening. After a 20-hour detention, the detained teachers were released on Sunday afternoon by Shahbagh police.
Later that evening, the teacher leaders met with the Primary and Mass Education Secretary at the Secretariat.
Following the meeting, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education proposed that the issue would be finalised after another meeting with the Ministry of Finance Secretary on Monday afternoon.
In response to this assurance, teachers called off their work abstention for Monday but kept their sit-in protest in place.
Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder stated that the salary upgrade proposal for 11th grade has been forwarded to the National Pay Commission by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The decision will be implemented by the Ministry of Finance as soon as the Pay Commission submits its recommendations.
Regarding the assurance of higher grades in the 10th and 16th years of service, he mentioned that if the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education submits a proposal on this matter, the Ministry of Finance will take the necessary steps accordingly.
