BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said the party is fundamentally in agreement with the just demands of MPO-enlisted teachers as their ongoing protests entered the seventh consecutive day on Saturday.
In a video message from London on Saturday, Tarique Rahman said that if the BNP is given the opportunity to govern again through the people’s vote, it will form a high-level commission to expand the financial security framework for teachers.
Echoing the stance, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned that the party will resist any attempt to provoke unrest or derail the democratic process ahead of the upcoming national election.
On Saturday, MPO-listed teachers and employees staged a black flag march to press for their three core demands, including a 20% house rent allowance, while also calling for the resignation of the education adviser.
The march started at the Central Shaheed Minar, proceeded around Doel Chattar and concluded with a brief rally at Kadam Fountain.
During the rally, teachers escalated their protest by demanding the resignation of Education Adviser CR Abrar, chanting slogans such as “CR Abrar, no longer needed”. A protest leader said that the number of teachers joining the hunger strike is increasing.
In his statement, Mirza Fakhrul said BNP prioritises fair financial benefits and job security for teachers, along with upholding their dignity and ensuring due state recognition for their contribution.
“We believe that regardless of how many reforms are initiated in politics or governance, true progress will remain elusive unless the education system is modernised and teachers’ financial and social security is ensured,” he said.
He added that if BNP is given the mandate to govern again through the people’s vote, the party will consider measures to expand financial protection for teachers, make their positions permanent and gradually move towards nationalising all educational institutions within the state’s capacity.
However, he warned that if any quarter linked to the former autocratic regime attempts to exploit the teachers’ movement to instigate chaos and destabilise the election atmosphere, BNP will firmly confront such actions.
“BNP will show zero tolerance against any attempt to obstruct the democratic transition through the forthcoming election,” Fakhrul said.
‘Hunger march’ on Sunday
At 12pm on Sunday, protesting teachers will stage a “hunger march” towards the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (Shikkhabhaban), carrying plates and bowls as a symbol of their struggle.
The announcement was made around 8pm on Saturday by Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the alliance demanding nationalisation of MPO-listed educational institutions.
He said, “No teacher will take part in classroom teaching or any administrative duties until our demands are met. Our work abstention will continue until the official gazette is issued.”
Demanding nationalisation of private educational institutions and a 20% house rent allowance based on their basic salaries, a section of MPO-listed teachers began a continuous blockade and protest in the capital several days ago.
On Friday, part of the demonstrators launched an indefinite hunger strike at the Shaheed Minar.
At a rally in front of the High Court, members of Gono Odhikar Parishad expressed solidarity with the movement. Addressing the gathering, Gono Odhinar Parishad leader Rashed Khan said, “Teachers are being forced to take to the streets to claim their rightful dues.”
He added, “Teachers deserve higher benefits than bureaucrats who enjoy numerous privileges.”
Rashed Khan warned that if the demands are not fulfilled, Gono Odhikar Parishad will join teachers in a siege of the Secretariat as well as a march towards the State Guest House Jamuna.
Following the rally, the demonstrators returned to the hunger strike site at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Earlier, on 12 October, the teachers launched a sit-in and blockade near the National Press Club to press their three-point demand. After facing police obstruction, they moved to the Shaheed Minar. They later held a long march towards the Secretariat on Tuesday and enforced a blockade at Shahbagh on Wednesday.
