Private MPO-listed teachers in Bangladesh have entered the second day of an indefinite strike, demanding a 20 percent increase in house rent allowance and broader reforms. They have announced a march toward the Secretariat on Tuesday, intensifying pressure on the government.
Since Monday morning, classes in all MPO-affiliated schools and colleges across the country have been suspended, leaving millions of students without lessons. Teachers argue that the government’s proposed increase in housing and medical allowances is inadequate and unrealistic. Their demands include a 20 percent house rent allowance based on basic salary and the implementation of a universal transfer policy.
The movement escalated after Sunday’s confrontation near the National Press Club, where police attempted to disperse demonstrators with sound grenades and force. The clash created tension in the area and prompted teachers to regroup at the Central Shaheed Minar, where they declared an indefinite strike.
For the past two nights, thousands of teachers have staged a sit-in under the open sky at the Shaheed Minar. Many slept on plastic sheets or used banners as makeshift bedding. Leaders have vowed to continue the protest until the government issues an official circular addressing their demands.
Across the country, teachers are attending schools but refusing to enter classrooms. Instead, they are staging sit-ins in courtyards, lounges, and offices, symbolically present but withholding lessons. The strike has already disrupted education nationwide and risks creating long-term setbacks for students if the deadlock continues.
Organizers have warned that the planned march to the Secretariat will mark the beginning of larger demonstrations unless the government responds quickly. The standoff has become one of the most significant education-related protests in recent years, highlighting the growing frustration among teachers over pay and working conditions.
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