STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Teachers of independent Ebtedayee madrasas -- primary level educational institutions under madrasa board -- ended their sit-in protest yesterday after the government announced plans to nationalise all registered institutions.

SM Masudul Haque, joint secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Division under the Ministry of Education, made the announcement in front of the Fine Arts Faculty at Dhaka University, where several hundred teachers had been protesting.

“We have agreed in principle to nationalise all Ebtedayee madrasas in phases,” he said, following a meeting with a 15-member delegation of the teachers. He also assured them that their other five demands would be addressed.

The announcement triggered emotional reactions among the teachers, with many cheering.

“We have ended our protest upon the government’s assurance,” said Rabiul Islam, an executive member of the Swatantra Ebtedayee Madrasa Shikkhak Oikyojote.

Another teacher hoped the nationalisation process would be implemented by June next year.

On Monday, the teachers had warned of tougher protests if their demands were not met by 2:00pm yesterday. Their sit-in began Sunday afternoon after police dispersed them with batons and water cannons during a march toward the Chief Adviser’s Office, where they planned to submit a six-point memorandum.

Protesters said many Ebtedayee madrasa teachers remain unpaid. About 1,100 institutions provide an allowance of up to Tk 3,500 per month, but payments are often irregular.