United News of Bangladesh

The government has further raised the house rent allowance for teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions enlisted under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) with effect from November 1 amid protests. The hike will be implemented in two phases. According to an official order, the allowance will be set at 7.5 percent of the basic salary (with a minimum of Tk 2,000) from 1 November 2025 while another 7.5 percent increase, bringing the total to 15 percent of the basic salary (minimum Tk 2,000)—will take effect from 1 July 2026. The Finance Division gave its consent to the rise despite the government’s existing budgetary limitations. Earlier, the government had approved a 5 percent (minimum Tk 2,000) increase in house rent allowance for MPO teachers and staff. The decision was, however, rejected by the teachers and staff who continued their protest demanding a higher increase. Education Adviser hopes protesting MPO teachers will return to classes The MPO teachers and staff started staging demonstrations from October 12 to press for three demands, including the house rent hike. According to the office order, the enhanced benefits must comply with relevant MPO policies, including the Non-Government Educational Institution (School and College) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy 2021, Madrasah MPO Policy 2018 (amended up to 23 November 2020), and Vocational, Business Management, Agriculture and Fisheries Diploma MPO Policy 2018 (amended up to 23 November 2020). It noted that the increase would not create any arrear claims for MPO-listed teachers and staff. All financial regulations must be strictly followed and any irregularities in expenditure will render the bill-approving authority liable. The order also directed the administrative ministry concerned to issue a government order (G.O.) and send four copies to the Finance Division for endorsement. Meanwhile, the Finance Division’s earlier circular has been cancelled with this new order.  

Education Adviser CR Abrar on Sunday expressed hope that the protesting the MPO-listed teachers will return to classrooms following the government’s announcement of a 5% house rent allowance based on their basic salary. “The Ministry of Education has always tried to safeguard the interests of teachers. And in that continuity the progress regarding house rent has been made,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. “I believe academic activities have resumed in many areas and we expect it will fully normalise,” said the adviser. Govt approves 5pc house rent for MPO teachers The teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme have been staging demonstrations across the country for the past several weeks, demanding 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. Earlier in the day, the Finance Ministry issued an order approving a 5% house rent allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) for MPO-listed teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions, taking into account the limitations of the current national budget. The new allowance will be effective from November. However, protesting teachers have rejected the 5% allowance and declared they will continue their hunger strike and other protest programmes until their full demands are met.  

The Ministry of Finance has approved a five percent house rent allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) for the teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme. The ministry’s Finance Division issued a letter to the secretaries of the Secondary and Higher Education Division and the Technical and Madrasa Education Division on Sunday, outlining six conditions for implementation. The new allowance will take effect from November 1. It specifies that the house rent must be adjusted according to the next national pay scale and that no arrears will be paid. Currently, MPO-listed teachers and employees receive Tk 1,000 as house rent. Earlier, the Finance Division had agreed to raise it by Tk 500, but the Education Ministry withheld the order amid ongoing protests. MPO-listed teachers, staff continue protest for 7th consecutive day Teachers have been demanding a 20 percent house rent allowance (minimum Tk 3,000) and are continuing their movement for the eighth consecutive day, now observing a hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. A few days ago, a delegation of protesting teachers met Education Adviser Prof CR Abrar, who had informed them of the government’s plan to increase the allowance by 5 percent, which they rejected.

Teachers and employees of MPO-listed private educational institutions have threatened that they will march towards the Secretariat from the Central Shaheed Minar if their demands are not met and the government fails to issue a notification by 4pm on Monday. The protesters said their ongoing sit-in and work abstention programmes would continue until the demands are fulfilled. The teachers and employees have been staging demonstrations to press home a three-point demand including 20 percent of the basic salary (or a minimum of Tk 3,000) as house rent allowance. 163 primary school teachers in Sylhet face action for absence without leave They have been staging a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar while work abstention continues in all MPO-listed institutions. Their other demands are a Tk 1,500 medical allowance for both teachers and employees and increasing the festival allowance for employees to 75 percent. Abdul Barek, a teacher of Darus Sunnat Kamil Madrasa in Kaukhali, Pirojpur, said, “If the notification is not issued by 4pm today, we will march towards the Secretariat.” He alleged that police attacked the protesting teachers on Sunday. “We were beaten indiscriminately. Our teachers were humiliated and injured. Tear gas was fired and one of our colleagues was dragged away. We strongly condemn this and demand justice,” he said. The teachers and employees launched their continuous sit-in on Sunday in front of the Jaitya Press Club, with a large number of participants from across the country. Police dispersed then using batons, sound grenades, and water cannons. Following the police action, the demonstrators moved to the Central Shaheed Minar where they have continued their protest since.