Closed-door talks at Finance Ministry on MPO teachers’ demand

Finance Ministry officials are holding closed-door discussions on increasing house rent allowances for non-government MPO-listed teachers and employees in percentage terms. The talks, which began Wednesday morning, are ongoing.

A source from the Finance Ministry told The Daily Campus that the meeting is taking place in the office of Additional Secretary Dilruba Shahina, with joint secretaries and deputy secretaries present.

An anonymous Finance Division official said, “Discussions are underway on the percentage-based house rent hike for teachers and employees. Calculations are being made. Nothing can be confirmed until a final decision is reached.”

On Wednesday, shortly before 2:00pm, police set up barricades near the National Library to stop MPO-listed teachers from blockading Shahbag. The teachers, demanding a 20 percent house rent allowance, Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and 75 percent festival bonus, staged a sit-in at the barricades, chanting slogans. They later broke through and occupied Shahbag intersection.

From morning, teachers gathered at Shaheed Minar, their numbers swelling as the day progressed. Slogans like “End salary discrimination!” and “Protect teachers’ dignity!” echoed, with banners and festoons asserting their stance. The Shaheed Minar premises were packed, with some teachers taking shade under nearby trees. Leaders vowed to continue until their demands are met.

Delawar Hossain Azizi, member-secretary of the MPO-listed Teachers Nationalisation Aspiring Alliance, said the blockade, planned for noon, was delayed as National Citizen Party (NCP) and university teachers’ forum leaders were to discuss with them at Shaheed Minar.

He said, “20 percent means 20 percent, not 19.99; Tk 1,500 medical allowance means Tk 1,500, not Tk 1,499; 75 percent festival bonus means 75 percent, not 74. We won’t leave the streets or budge an inch until these demands are met.”