Bangladesh News

Bangladesh Community Primary Teachers’ Association yesterday withdrew their indefinite strike without any assurance from the government after observing a twelve-day hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital.

The teachers said that they decided to withdraw the indefinite strike and the hunger strike in the greater interest of the students as the second term examinations are due from August 23.

Teachers of community primary schools had been on indefinite strike since August 1 and went on hunger strike until death at the Central Shaheed Minar since August 6 demanding nationalisation of their jobs.

They brought out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:00 noon yesterday to lay siege to the prime minister’s office, but instead, they staged a sit-in protest for an hour at the Doyel Chattar as the police incepted the procession and foiled their attempt.

Later, five representatives of the teachers led by the association President Habibul Ahsan Bablu were allowed to go to the Prime Minister’s Office for submitting a memorandum to the prime minister.

Bablu told The Daily Star that they decided to withdraw the strike in the greater interest of the students and the schools will resume from Saturday.

However, he said their organisation would hold rallies in districts on September 6 and a grand rally at the Central Shaheed Minar on September 20 if their one-point demand is not fulfilled by August 31.

The association Secretary General Hafizur Rahman said they will wear symbolic black badges while giving lessons in classes in protest at the government’s neglect.