Teachers of non-MPO (monthly payment order) educational institutions have set an ultimatum to the government of April 20 to bring them under MPO, otherwise they would launch tougher actions including black-badge wearing. class abstention and hunger strike from April 23.

The teachers under the banner of Teachers-Employees Oikya Parishad stated this yesterday at a press conference in the city.

President of the platform Principal Esharat Ali read out a written speech ar the press conference." Esharat in the Speech said: “Teachers of the non-MPO educational institutions are living inhuman and insecure life, though they are in the noble profession of teaching." "The organisation will launch tougher programmes if the government recognised non-MPO educational institutions were not brought under MPO,” he added.

The programmes of the organisation include submitting memorandum to the chief adviser, army chief and education adviser on April 23, wearing black badges from April 24 to April 26, forming human chain in every district across the country, class abstention from April 29 to May 3 and hunger strike for indefinite period at the Shaheed Minar from May 10.

"Currently there are about 32,000 educational institutions of • which 25,ooo are non-government and 8,000 institutions of them are recognised by the government but are not under MPO status," said Esharat, "About one million students are studying in these institutions, "he added.

General Secretary of the organi-sation Md Kamal Hossain, Advocate Mostafa Ahmed, Principal Mahmudunnabi Dollar, Principal Abdul Mannan and Md Idris Ali, among others, were present at the press conference.