Teachers withdraw movement
The teachers of ibtedayi madrassahs withdrew their movement as the government on Tuesday announced that the madrassahs across the country would be nationalised in phases.
The government decision came following a 10-day demonstration by the madrassah teachers since January 19.
The protesting teachers on Monday issued an ultimatum to the government, giving it until Tuesday afternoon to fulfil their demand for the nationalisation of ibtedayi madrassahs.
The government decision was made after a 15-member team of protesting teachers met with the senior officials of education ministry to present their demands at the secretariat.
SM Masudul Haque, joint secretary at the Technical and Madrassah Education Division under the education ministry, disclosed the government decision to the protesting teachers at Shahbagh Tuesday afternoon.
He said that the madrasshas would be nationalised maintaining the government standard.
Ibtedayi madrassah teachers from across the country, under the banner of the Independent ibtedayi Madrassah Teachers鈥� Unity Council, began their protest in front of the National Press Club on January 19.
Police attacked the demonstrators near Shahbagh Crossing on January 26 as they attempted to march towards the chief adviser鈥檚 residence. At least five protesters were injured in the attack.
Following the clash, the teachers blocked a portion of Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue on the Dhaka University campus from January 26 afternoon to till Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, for the third consecutive day, madrassah teachers continued their road blockade programme at Shahbagh to press for their demands.
On Tuesday afternoon, a 15-member delegation of ibtedayi madrassah teachers went the secretariat to meet with education ministry officials.
Shamsul Alam, convener of the Independent ibtedayi Madrassah Teachers鈥� Unity Council, led the delegation.
Upon hearing the announcement of nationalisation, several teachers broke down in tears.
The council鈥檚 joint secretary general, Abdul Hannan Hossen, who attended the meeting at the secretariat, said, 鈥楢ll of our six-point demands have been granted by the education ministry. The ministry has agreed to nationalise all ibtedayi madrassahs in phases, considering financial and compliance issues.鈥�
Their other demands are -聽 cancellation of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrassah Registration Stay Order 2008, code numbers for all registered madrassahs, approval for separate guidelines and teaching methods, salary and allowances, the appointment of office assistants, and approval to open pre-primary classes in these madrassahs.
According to the council, of approximately 10,000 ibtedayi madrassahs, only 1,519 currently receive government allowances鈥攁 head teacher receives Tk 3,500, while an assistant teacher receives Tk 3,300.
Teachers in other madrassahs do not receive any allowances, the council organisers said.
