Thousands of non-government teachers under the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) program have given the government a one-month deadline to nationalise MPO-listed educational institutions.
On Wednesday morning, protesters began pouring into the area around Dhaka’s National Press Club for a rally organized by the “Alliance for Nationalisation.” The turnout was huge, with people showing up from all 64 districts of the country. By about noon, the crowd had grown so large that traffic ground to a halt all the way from Paltan to the High Court.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Education Adviser CR Abrar at the Secretariat, Prof Delwar Hossain Azizi, the alliance’s member secretary, said the demand had been acknowledged as reasonable by the adviser but accused the authorities of delaying action.
“Our demand is logical and the Education Adviser also admitted that,” he said. “But there is procrastination in implementation. We are giving a deadline of 30 days. If visible and logical actions are not taken within this time, we will be forced to launch a full-scale movement.”
Azizi warned that if the government does not act by September 14, teachers in MPO-listed private institutions will begin a nationwide work abstention on September 15. That could escalate into boycotting classes and examinations.
Protest leaders argued that bringing MPO-registered institutions under full government control is essential for improving education quality, ensuring fair treatment for teachers and staff, and creating a more unified education system.
The day’s protest drew thousands, underscoring the scale of the frustration among educators who say they have been waiting years for concrete steps on nationalisation. The government has not yet issued a formal response to the ultimatum.
