MPO-listed private teachers in Bangladesh have been protesting for the ninth consecutive day as of October 20, 2025, demanding better allowances and job nationalization.
The protests have intensified following a government decision to increase the house rent allowance by only Tk 500, which the teachers have rejected, calling it insufficient.
On October 14, 2025, the MPO-affiliated Education Nationalisation Alliance announced a “March to the Secretariat” to press for their demands, including raising the house rent allowance to 20% of their basic salary, increasing the medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and raising the festival allowance from 50% to 75% of the basic salary. The march was initially postponed after appeals from the administration and regional leaders, but the teachers warned that it would proceed if their demands were not met.
The protests have led to a nationwide strike in private educational institutions, with teachers and employees staging sit-ins at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. Similar demonstrations have been reported across the country, with teachers boycotting classes and examinations to express solidarity.
The government has increased the house rent allowance for MPO-registered teachers and employees by Tk 500, but the teachers have rejected it, calling for a higher increase. The education ministry has sent a proposal to the Finance Division to raise the house rent allowance to at least Tk 2,000 or Tk 3,000.
The teachers have emphasized that there is no room for negotiation on their three main demands. They have warned that if the government does not accept their demands, the “March to Secretariat” program will be held in the afternoon. The administration and Hasnat Abdullah, the NCP’s chief organizer for the southern region, have urged the teachers not to hold the long march program. However, the teachers have stated that they will not withdraw the program unless their demands are met.
The protests have drawn attention to the longstanding issues faced by MPO-listed teachers, including low allowances and job insecurity. The teachers are calling for the nationalization of their jobs to ensure better job security and benefits.
The situation remains tense, with the government and the protesting teachers at an impasse. The outcome of the ongoing protests will depend on whether the government addresses the teachers’ demands or if the protests escalate further.
