Non-govt pry teachers' hunger strike from February 28
Non-government primary teachers under the banner of Bangladesh Non-Govt Primary Teachers' Association and community primary teachers under the banner of Bangladesh Community Primary Teachers' Association yesterday decided to go for series of tough programmes if their demands are not met by January 19.
The new programmes have been taken up as the grand rally of primary teachers scheduled for January 19 was postponed.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. It was expected that non-government primary teachers' long-standing demands for more government grant would be realised through an announcement of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at the rally.
Leaders of non-government primary teachers at a press conference said they will also observe token hunger strike at Muktangan on February 26.
"We have resorted to tough programmes as BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance government did not meet our demands during its last four years. " said Mohammad Mansur Ali, secretary general of Non-Govt Primary Teachers' Association while reading out a statement at the press conference at the National Press Club.
He said they will also hold a teachers' rally at Muktangan on February 28, the day when they will begin their indefinite hunger strike.
Bangladesh Community Primary Teachers' Association will lay siege to prime minister's office (PMO) on February 6 and go for indefinite hunger strike from the same day if their demands are not met by January 19.
Leaders of the community teachers announced their programmes from a gathering on the premises of Shikkha Bhaban to press home their demands.
There are about 100,000 teachers in 3,500 registered non-government primary schools and around 13,000 teachers in 3,778 community primary schools across the country.
Meanwhile, leaders of Jatiya Shikkhak Samity Oikya Jote, a pro-government primary teachers association, have met Education Minister Dr M Osman Farruk at his secretariat office.
The minister told them that a new date for the postponed teachers' rally would be announced on return of the Prime Minister from Kuwait.