Thousands of Teachers Gather at Shaheed Minar, Begin ‘March to Secretariat’ Program

The scene at Shaheed Minar around 12 noon on Tuesday (October 14) showed a large crowd of teachers holding banners and chanting slogans in support of their demands.

Abul Bashar, joint member secretary of the Nationalization Aspiring Alliance, told Dhaka Post, “We will start our ‘March to Secretariat’ shortly to implement our just demands.” He also warned, “If police attack us again, we will announce a stricter protest program.”

Teachers have vowed to continue their strike until the government issues an official notification ensuring a 20 percent increase in house rent allowance, a Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and a 75 percent festival allowance for employees.

Since Monday morning, classes in all private MPO-listed educational institutions across the country have been suspended. Teachers have stopped classroom activities, demanding a rise in allowances and protesting police aggression during earlier demonstrations. As a result, academic activities at schools and colleges nationwide have come to a halt.

The protesting teachers described the government’s proposed increase in allowances as “insufficient and unrealistic.” They are demanding a 20 percent rise based on the basic salary and the introduction of a universal transfer policy.

Tension escalated on Sunday afternoon when police tried to disperse teachers during a sit-in in front of the National Press Club. Witnesses said scuffles broke out, and police fired sound grenades, leading to panic in the area. Following the incident, teachers regrouped at the Shaheed Minar and declared an indefinite movement from there.

Teachers have since been staying at the Central Shaheed Minar under the open sky. Many spent Sunday and Monday nights on plastic sheets, while others used banners as makeshift bedding. They reiterated that their strike and movement will continue until their demands are met through an official government notification.

Meanwhile, teachers across the country have joined the strike in solidarity. Although they are attending schools, they are refraining from entering classrooms or conducting lessons. Instead, they are staging sit-ins in schoolyards, teachers’ lounges, and offices.

In addition, teachers in various districts and upazilas have been seen holding banners and placards expressing their support. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, are also flooded with posts and photos showing solidarity with the protesting teachers gathered in Dhaka.