MPO teachers withdraw protest after demands were met

MPO teachers of private educational institutions have withdrawn their ongoing protest. The decision was announced after the Finance Ministry issued a notification on Tuesday (October 21) afternoon regarding the increase in house rent allowance.

Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the MPO Education Nationalization Alliance, confirmed the matter and said, "We are withdrawing the protest. We will attend classes regularly from tomorrow."

The Finance Ministry has announced in a new decision that MPO teachers will be given house rent allowance at the rate of 7.5 percent of their basic salary from November 1. In addition, it has been promised to increase this allowance to 15 percent in the next budget.

Earlier, on Sunday (October 19), the Finance Ministry had issued a notification to increase the house rent allowance by 5 percent in response to the demands of the agitating teachers. However, the teachers remained dissatisfied and continued their protest.

The teachers held several programs to achieve their demands—including sit-in programs, protests with black cloths on their faces, human chains, and class boycotts. Finally, the movement ended with the government's kind initiative to partially meet their main demands.

Teacher leaders said that although the movement has been withdrawn for the time being, discussions with the government on other demands will continue later.

They said, "We give top priority to educational services. Therefore, we are returning to class thinking about the students. However, we hope that the remaining demands will also be implemented."

It is learned that about 5 lakh MPO-registered teachers and employees in the country will benefit from the new notification of the Ministry of Finance.