Primary teachers to go on nationwide strike from Monday

Assistant teachers in Bangladesh’s government primary schools will launch a nationwide strike starting Monday, May 5, demanding salary upgrades to grade 11 and other reforms, the Primary Assistant Teachers Sangathan Oikya Parishad announced. 

The action, set to disrupt over 65,000 schools, follows the government’s failure to meet a May 4 deadline for addressing their three-point demands.

The strike begins with a one-hour work stoppage each morning from May 5 to 15, escalating to two-hour strikes from May 16 to 20, and half-day strikes from May 21 to 25. 

If demands remain unmet, a full-day strike will commence on May 26 until resolution, said Oikya Parishad leader Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud. 

“The government ignored us; we’re forced to act,” he told Jago News.

The demands include reforming the interim government’s consultation committee recommendation to set assistant teachers’ entry-level salary at grade 11 (currently grade 13, compared to head teachers’ grade 11), simplifying access to higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100% promotion to head teacher posts with expedited processes.

The Oikya Parishad, while supporting the grade 11 demand, continues advocating for grade 10, a long-standing goal backed by recent Dhaka rallies. 

Md Mahbubur Rahman, coordinator of the 10th Grade Implementation Coordination Council, endorsed the strike, urging unity to push for grade 10 in the future.

With over 4.5 lakh teachers involved, the strike could significantly impact primary education, affecting millions of students. The Department of Primary Education has yet to respond publicly to the planned action.