Secondary teachers end hunger strike after assurance of nationalisation

Secondary teachers have ended their hunger strike after the government assured them of nationalising secondary level educational institutions in the country.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Teachers Association (BTA) Sheikh Kawshar Ahmed told journalists on Tuesday night that they will return to the classroom on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the teacher leaders went to the Dhanmondi office of the Awami League on the invitation of Prime Minister's Political Advisor Kabir Bin Anwar.

In the meeting, the teachers were told that the government would form a committee to assess the cost of nationalisation. Once the cost is determined, the prime minister will announce the decision.

Sheikh Kawshar Ahmed said, "Our main demand was to remove the disparity between public and private schools. In today's meeting, everyone agreed to remove the disparity. Teachers' representatives will be included in the two committees that the government has formed in this regard."

"We are satisfied with this. We are announcing the suspension of our agitation and hunger strike on the assurance of the authorities," he added.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and leaders of Awami League's subcommittee on education.

The teachers had been holding a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club since 11 July demanding the nationalisation of secondary education. They started hunger strike on Tuesday.