A total of 777 teachers of 49 government polytechnic institutes started a hunger strike on Tuesday (February 8) demanding arrears of 19 months’ salaries and to make their jobs permanent.
The teachers have been holding a human chain and sit-in programme at the central Shaheed Minar since February 1, organised under the banner of ‘Amra Muktijoddhar Shontan’. Teachers of various government polytechnics also took part in it. Ahad Ali, a participant of Tuesday’s hunger strike has been suffering from hepatitis for a long time.
Syed Omar Farooq, son of a freedom fighter, fell ill in the afternoon during hunger strike.
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Meanwhile, the Director General of the Department of Technical Education Dr Omar Faruk and Director of Polytechnic Manjurul Quader and Mofizur Rahman, Assistant Private Secretary to the Minister of Education visited the hunger strike site.
They assured that the demands and situation of the protesters would reach the Prime Minister through the Education Minister.
On the other hand, the teachers on hunger strike announced to continue the hunger strike till their demands are met.
Many teachers broke down in tears while talking about their grief and sufferings in front of the Director General.
Earlier, Muktijoddha Commanders, Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), Bangabandhu Diploma Engineering Council, and various other organizations of the country including Bangladesh Muktijoddha Mancha have expressed their solidarity with the teachers.