14 more fall sick as hunger strike enters day 5

Fourteen more fell sick as the hunger strike for enlistment of teachers into Monthly Payment Order (MPO) entered fifth day today, taking the sick tally of the demonstration to 85.

Imran Bin Solaiman, organising secretary of Non-MPO Shikhya Pratishthan Shikhyak Karmachari Federation, confirmed of the development to The Daily Star this morning.

What was a demonstration of about 200 teachers in front of Jatiya Press Club for the last few days grew up to well around a thousand when seen yesterday. Their spirit has not wavered.

READ MORE: Hunger strike stays resolute

They have already rejected the assuring words of Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid of fulfilling their demand, saying they would not go back home without any specifics.

A teacher taking saline in the middle of the hunger strike demonstration. Photo: Amran Hossain

“We will not withdraw our demonstration unless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declares a specific time frame to draw up our solution,” Imran Bin Solaiman said this morning.

About 80,000 teachers currently employed in 5,242 government-recognised schools all over Bangladesh are not under a pay scheme. They do not receive any payment, some for well over decades.

This is because the schools do not have the ability to pay the teachers, while the government stopped enlisting the institutions for MPO due to a "fund crisis".