Abu Sadiq Kayem, Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has expressed support for the movement of MPO-listed teachers and staff, urging the caretaker government to meet their legitimate demands. He warned that failure to do so could create a turbulent situation that would be difficult to manage.
On Sunday evening (October 19), while showing solidarity with the teachers’ movement at the Central Shaheed Minar, DUCSU VP Abu Sadiq Kayem said, “There is still time—meet the teachers’ rightful demands. Otherwise, a storm will rise that cannot be controlled.”
He pointed out that teachers have been deprived of their rightful benefits. “After the July revolution, we got a new Bangladesh. The main goal of the revolution was to eliminate inequality. Yet, even after a year, that inequality persists,” he said.
Sadiq Kayem added, “Teachers, who are the architects of future generations, have been protesting for the past eight days for their rightful benefits. The attacks on them are deeply concerning.”
Addressing the caretaker government directly, he warned, “If, as a teacher, you cannot feel the deprivation faced by teachers, then there is no reason for you to be here. You did not come here to indulge in luxuries.”
He further remarked that if teachers’ demands are ignored, the consequences for the advisers could be even harsher than facing murderers or fascists.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has set the house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers and staff at 5%, with a minimum of 2,000 taka. However, the teachers have warned that they will continue their movement until their demands for a 20% house rent allowance, 1,500 taka medical allowance, and a 75% festival allowance increase are met.
