Amid the Work Stoppage, Another Faction of Primary Teachers Begins Strike

Amid a work stoppage by one group of assistant teachers at government primary schools over demands related to salary increases, higher grades, and promotion complications, another group has announced the start of a “continuous work stoppage” from today.

Followers of the “Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council” announced the programme on Wednesday night.

A few days earlier, they had been protesting with three demands, including salary placement in the 10th grade. They suspended the programme after receiving assurances of placement in the 11th grade.

Regarding the new programme, Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, convener of the “Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council,” said, “As the Ministry of Finance has not issued the notification for the 11th grade among the three demands, nor shown the expected progress on the remaining demands, the previously announced continuous work stoppage from November 30 has been rescheduled to begin today.

“In other words, the continuous work stoppage programme of the ‘Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council’ begins today. According to the commitment given by the Ministry of Finance, the full-day work stoppage will continue until the 11th grade and the three demands are implemented.”

To press for three demands related to resolving grade-related and promotion complications, the 12-organisation alliance of primary teachers, “Primary Assistant Teachers’ Organisation Unity Council,” has been observing a “three-day full-day work stoppage” since Tuesday.

Shaheenur Al Amin, president of the alliance member organisation “Bangladesh Primary Assistant Teachers’ Society,” said that the full-day work stoppage will continue through today.

He said, “The work stoppage began as per the previously announced programme. We had given the government until November 15 to implement our demands: placing assistant teachers in the 11th grade at the entry level, resolving the complications of higher grades after 10 and 16 years in service, and ensuring 100% departmental promotion.

“As the demands were not implemented, we observed half-day work stoppages on Sunday and Monday. We will begin a sit-in programme in front of the Directorate of Primary Education after December 11.”

On November 8, teachers began a continuous sit-in programme at the Shaheed Minar. Under the banner of the “Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council,” they attempted to march toward Shahbagh in the afternoon to enforce a “pen-down strike,” but were stopped by police. The police dispersed them using sound grenades, water cannons, batons, and tear gas. Several people were injured. In protest of the incident, teachers began a work stoppage the following day.

Later, on November 10, the protesting teachers held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, where they were assured of salary placement in the 11th grade and of resolving complications regarding higher grades and promotions. They withdrew their programme that night.