Jan8: Police frustrated an attempt to besiege Shikkha Bhaban on Tuesday by the teachers of educational institutions not included under the government’s Monthly Payment Order (MPO).
The law enforcers intercepted a procession of those teachers around noon when they were on their way to Shikkha Bhaban from the National Press Club.
Ramna zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Syed Nurul Islam said they used ‘pepper spray’ as the teachers tried to march through barricades.
A pitched battle took place between the demonstrators and police.
Faced with police bar, the teachers again gathered in front of the Press Club.
Earlier in the day, the teachers demonstrated in front of the Press Club around 10:15am blocking the key Paltan-Shahbagh road that led to traffic snarls in surrounding areas.
On Monday, teachers of non-government schools, colleges, madrassas and technical education institutions demonstrated blocking the road in front of the Press Club impeding vehicular movement in adjacent areas.
According to them, there are around 100,000 teachers and employees in around 7,000 non-MPO institutions in Bangladesh.
Teachers of these institutions have been demonstrating for long seeking their inclusion in the MPO list. The Education Minister had a meeting with them in May last year.
Police resorted to baton-charge to foil their demonstration on Sep 1. On Sep 5, the demonstrating teachers held talks with Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury.
Later, the teachers suspended their agitation following assurance of a meeting with the Prime Minister, but that meeting did not happen.
The teachers on Dec 30 gave the government until Jan 5 to concede to their demands and threatened non-stop sit-in programmes if that did not happen.
Bdnews24.com
