Demand for nationalisation: Madrasa teachers continue sit-in for 10th day
Association leaders threatened to continue their demonstration as long as their demands remained unmet
Teachers of independent ebtedayee madrasas on Tuesday continued with their sit-in event in the capital for the 10th day, demanding nationalisation of their madrasas and jobs.
Under the banner of Bangladesh Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers' Association, teachers from across the country gathered in front of the National Press Club in the city.
Association leaders threatened to continue their demonstration as long as their seven demands remained unmet.
According to speakers at the rally, out of 1,519 ebtedayee madrasa teachers, the headmaster had received a monthly allowance of Tk2,500, while the assistant teacher was paid a Tk2,300 allowance. Teachers of the remaining registered madrasas have not been paid salaries and allowances for 34 years, which is absolutely unacceptable.
Association President, Maulana Hafeez Kazi Faizur Rahman, said, "We have been assured of nationalisation at various times. But those assurances have still not materialized, which is why we had no choice but to organize this protest rally", he said.
Secretary General of the Association, Kazi Mokhlesur Rahman, said, "We are staging the demonstration to realise our rational demands. We will continue the demonstration until our demands are met. "
The seven demands are as follows: nationalization of all independent ebtedayee madrasas; amendment of the Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Policy-2018; recruitment of assistant teachers; training in Primary Training Institute (PTI) for independent ebtedayee madrasa teachers at primary level; procurement of furniture for madrasas; construction of buildings, and permanent registration.
Member Secretary of the Association, Mufti Masum Billah Nafi; Senior Vice President, Bangladesh Awami Olama League, Maulana Mohammad Shahjahan; ABM Abdul Quddus, ABM Nazim Uddin, Abu Musa Bhuiyan, Bashir Ullah Atahari and many others were present at the sit-in.