The MPO-listed teachers and staff have continued their protest at the Central Shaheed Minar for the seventh consecutive day, pressing a three-point demand.

Today, they also held a demonstration wearing black badges as a mark of protest. The protesters have been observing a hunger strike at the monument since 2pm on Friday.

Their demands include a 20 percent house rent allowance based on their basic salary, a medical allowance of Tk 1,500 for both teachers and staff, and an increase in the festival allowance for employees to 75 percent.

Shanto Islam, joint member secretary of the MPO Education Nationalization Aspiration Alliance, said that 84 teachers joined the hunger strike starting at 2 p.m. on Friday. “The number has increased today. Several have already fallen ill, and five have been treated and sent home,” he added.

Another protester, Mohammad Zainal Abedin, said they would continue their movement until their demands are fulfilled.

Earlier, on Tuesday, police barred the protesters when they attempted a long march toward the Secretariat. On Wednesday, they blocked the Shahbagh intersection, disrupting traffic in the area. They had also planned a “March to Jamuna” program on Thursday, but later suspended it.

Following a discussion on Thursday, the interim government proposed a 5 percent house rent allowance starting from November. The protesting teachers and staff rejected the offer, declaring that they would continue their movement.

Education Adviser Professor C. R. Abrar told the media that the finance ministry had informed them it could provide a 5 percent house rent allowance from November, with a minimum of Tk 2,000. “Due to financial constraints, it is not possible to offer more right now. This has been conveyed to the teachers and staff, but they did not agree,” he added.

The protesters have insisted that the allowance should be increased by 10 percent now, with a further 10 percent increase next year.