Bangladesh
Teachers Protest Teachers gives no response to Education Minister's call
Dhaka, July 20: The leaders of Bangladesh Teachers Association (BTA) have announced to continue the ongoing movement to demand the nationalization of private secondary educational institutions. They did not respond to Education Minister Dipu Moni's call to return to classes.
The protesting teachers said they will suspend the programme and return to the educational institution if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets them and assures them to fulfill their demands.
BTA General Secretary Principal Sheikh Kawsar Ahmed made this announcement in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday evening. Earlier, they met Education Minister Dipu Moni at the International Mother Language Institute at Segun Bagicha in the capital around 3:30 pm. Later, the teacher leaders sat in an internal meeting at the BTA office. From there it was decided to continue the movement.
Bringing up the decision of the meeting in front of the protesting teachers, Sheikh Kawsar Ahmed said, "No fruitful decision was found in the meeting with the Minister of Education. We want to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for at least one minute regarding the demand."
Addressing the Prime Minister, he said, "Until you (the Prime Minister) give time, we will not leave the highway and return home. As long as you don't sit with us, no matter how much police torture, no matter how much blood is shed, we will not leave the streets. Our movement program will continue until this demand is met."
Principal Sheikh Kawsar Ahmed said, "In addition to nationalization, one of our demands was that salaries, festival bonuses, house rents and the nominal money given in the medical sector should also be increased. The Education Minister has not given any clear solution to these issues. The minister said to form two expert committees on improving the quality of education and financial inclusion. I demanded the participation of our teacher leaders in that committee. But he (Education Minister) rejected it."
Earlier in the afternoon, in a meeting with teacher leaders, Education Minister Dipu Moni said that it is not possible to nationalize secondary level private educational institutions before the upcoming National Assembly elections. At the same time, the minister called upon the agitating teachers to stop their program and return to class.
