Teachers and employees of MPO-enlisted non-government educational institutions are continuing their protest for the ninth consecutive day, demanding that the government issue a gazette accepting their three-point demand. Since this morning, they have been observing a hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar.

The demonstrators said they would continue their protests until their demands are met. They termed the government's decision to fix house rent at five percent of the basic salary or a minimum of Tk 2,000 as "unrealistic".

They reiterated their demands -- 20 percent of the basic salary as house rent, an increase in medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and raising the festival bonus for staff from 50 to 75 percent.

On September 30, the government announced a Tk 500 increase in house rent allowance. However, after the announcement was made public on October 5, the teachers and employees rejected it and called for fresh demonstrations.

The education ministry later forwarded a proposal to the Finance Division to raise the allowance to at least Tk 2,000 or Tk 3,000.

On Sunday afternoon, around 3:30pm, their "hunger march" from Shaheed Minar toward the education ministry was obstructed by police and Border Guard Bangladesh near the High Court Mazar Gate. The protesters then returned to Shaheed Minar around 4:45pm and resumed their sit-in.

During an evening rally, Delowar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the MPO Teachers and Employees Nationalisation Alliance, announced the beginning of their indefinite hunger strike.

In Bangladesh, MPO-listed teachers are those working at private schools and colleges that receive government funding via the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system.