Teachers of ebtedayee madrasahs are continuing their sit-in protest for the sixth day demanding the nationalization of all ebtedayee madrasahs that have been certified by the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board. Leaders and members of Bangladesh Swatantra Ebtedayee Madrasah Shikkhok Samiti started their protest on January 1 in front of the National Press Club.
The organization’s President Kazi Ruhil Amin Chowdhury said a 1994 circular fixed the salaries of teachers of non-government and independent ebtedayee madrasahs at Tk500. Over the years, the salaries were raised in steps but the ebtedayee madrasa teachers did not get much raise compared to the primary school teachers.
He said, “The incumbent government nationalized 26,193 private primary schools on January 9, 2013. However, the ebtedayee madrasahs follow the same syllabus as that of the primary schools.
“Ebtedayee madrasah students also take part in terminal exams like the primary school students. Our teachers also participate in all government activities like the primary school teachers. However, at the end of the month, primary school teachers get Tk25,000 to Tk30,000. Ebtedayee madrasah teachers do not get such salaries and bonuses but we are continuing with teaching,” he added.
Amin said headmasters of 1,519 ebtedayee madrasahs get Tk2,500 and assistant teachers are paid Tk2,300. The rest of the madrasah teachers have been deprived of salaries. “This is inhuman and a contempt of the teachers,” he said.
About the next course of the demonstration, he said they would submit the memorandum to the education minister on Sunday and at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday. “We will resort to tougher movement if our demands are not met,” he warned.