Teachers from non-government MPO-listed institutions blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon to press home their various demands, including a 20% house rent allowance.
The blockade has brought traffic to a complete standstill on all roads leading to the Shahbagh intersection, effectively halting vehicular movement in the area.
The blockade began around 2pm after the teachers marched from the Central Shaheed Minar, breaching police barricades placed to prevent their advance.
Tensions escalated as a large contingent of police personnel deployed to the scene attempted to contain the protest, though no clashes had been reported as of the latest update.
The demonstration follows an ultimatum issued by the teachers, which called on the government to publish a circular meeting their key demands by noon. With the deadline passing unmet, protesters initiated the Shahbagh blockade as previously announced.
Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Alliance for Nationalisation of MPO Institutions, made the announcement on Sunday night in front of the High Court on behalf of the teachers, warning they would seize the Shahbagh intersection if the government failed to meet their demands.”
Since Sunday, teachers from across the country have been holding a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar. A portion of the demonstrators have remained there overnight, while others joined daily.
The protest intensified after law enforcement broke up an earlier rally near the National Press Club using water cannons, batons, and sound grenades, prompting the shift to the Shaheed Minar and a nationwide work abstention.
The teachers are calling for multiple benefits, with particular emphasis on a meaningful increase in housing allowances.
Currently, entry-level MPO teachers receive Tk 12,500 per month, which includes a meager Tk 1,000 for house rent and Tk 500 for medical expenses. While the finance ministry recently sanctioned a Tk 500 increase in house rent allowance, teachers have dismissed the adjustment as insufficient.
Previously, the teachers had issued a deadline for 14 September, warning of escalated actions if their demands were ignored. That strike was postponed after the education ministry promised to address the issue, but no concrete action has followed.
Bangladesh currently has over 26,000 MPO-enlisted non-government institutions employing nearly 380,000 teachers and 170,000 staff members.
