Thousands of MPO-listed non-government teachers have gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar and are set to soon launch a march towards the Secretariat at 4pm demanding pay hikes.

Earlier, they were expected to begin the pre-announced march at 12pm, but has now deferred the programme by four hours amid reports that the government has started discussing their three demands.

The protesting group’s member secretary, Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, announced the deferral at Shaheed Minar, amid the prospects that the government has initiated internal meetings centring the protest.

Delwar Hossain Azizi also said that NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, who the teacher said has remained involved in the protest since the beginning, contacted via phone, requesting the protesters to delay their march until the government meeting ends.

Earlier in the morning, the college principal said, “We will not leave the streets until the government issues a gazette granting 20% of the basic salary as house rent allowance for teachers and staff, Tk1,500 as medical allowance, and 75% festival bonus for employees.”

Some teachers also demanded the implementation of a universal transfer policy.

The protesting teachers said the government’s proposed increase in house rent and medical allowances is “insufficient and unrealistic.”

Last Sunday afternoon, during a sit-in in front of the National Press Club by a breakaway group, scuffles broke out when police tried to disperse the teachers, and sound grenades were fired, creating tension in the area. Following appeals from the organization’s leaders, the teachers moved to the Shaheed Minar and announced a continuous protest from there.

On Sunday and Monday nights, all the protesting teachers stayed at the Central Shaheed Minar under the open sky. They declared that the work stoppage and protest would continue until the government issues the official gazette.

MPO-listed non-government teachers across the country are currently observing a work stoppage. Although they attend school regularly, they are refraining from entering classrooms or conducting lessons. They are continuing their sit-in programs within school premises—on the grounds, in teachers’ lounges, or office rooms.