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Bangladesh Primary Teachers End Strike After Finance Ministry's Assurance of Pay and Funding

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  Published in Business and Finance on Monday, November 10th 2025 at 12:41 GMT by The Daily Star
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Primary Teachers End Strike After Finance Ministry’s Assurance of Pay and Funding

Bangladesh’s primary teachers, who had halted teaching for several days in a nationwide strike, have returned to their classrooms following a public assurance from the Finance Ministry that outstanding salaries and essential school funding would be secured. The strike, which began amid growing frustration over delayed payments and inadequate resources, had left thousands of primary school children without instruction and disrupted the country’s educational calendar.

Background of the Dispute

The teachers’ union, representing more than 1.2 million elementary educators across the nation, issued a formal protest on March 15, citing two main grievances: the non‑payment of salaries that had been pending since September of the previous year and the continued lack of infrastructural support for primary schools. The union demanded an immediate release of the overdue wages, a restructuring of the salary scale, and a concrete plan for upgrading school facilities—particularly the provision of clean drinking water, electricity, and sanitary amenities.

In the weeks leading up to the strike, the Ministry of Education had announced a modest increase in the national education budget, but critics argued that the figures were insufficient to address the urgent needs of frontline teachers. The teachers’ collective action, therefore, was not merely a call for money but also a broader push for systemic reforms in the country’s primary education sector.

Escalation and Impact

During the strike, dozens of teachers organized pickets outside school buildings and educational institutions across major cities, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna. Parents reported that many schools were closed, causing students to miss up to five days of instruction. The protest also coincided with a national election cycle, adding political pressure on the government to resolve the impasse swiftly.

The teachers’ spokesperson, Md. Hasanuzzaman, told reporters that the decision to strike was a last resort after repeated appeals to the Education Ministry had fallen on deaf ears. “We have served the nation’s children for decades. It is disheartening to see our dedication rewarded with delayed salaries and dilapidated classrooms,” he said. “We cannot continue to work under these conditions.”

Government Response and Finance Ministry’s Assurance

In response to the escalating situation, the Finance Ministry, led by Minister Khasru Ahmed, issued a statement on March 18. The ministry announced that the pending salary payments would be processed within the next fiscal quarter and that an additional 5 billion taka would be allocated to the education budget for the 2024‑25 year. The ministry also pledged to expedite the procurement of essential supplies—such as textbooks, teaching aids, and maintenance services—for all primary schools.

The assurance came after a high‑level meeting between the Education Minister, who had been negotiating with the teachers’ union, and the Finance Minister. The Education Minister emphasized that the government recognized the importance of investing in human capital and had committed to a 2% annual increase in teacher salaries, subject to budgetary constraints.

According to the official communication released on the Finance Ministry’s portal, the new budget will include a dedicated line item for “Teacher Salary Augmentation” and an expansion of the “School Infrastructure Development Fund.” This move is expected to cover the immediate cash flow issues and lay the groundwork for longer‑term reforms.

Strike Conclusion and Return to Work

Following the finance ministry’s assurances, the teachers’ union announced on March 21 that the strike would be called off. “We have received the promised financial commitment from the government and are willing to resume our duties,” the union’s spokesperson stated. The teachers were scheduled to return to their schools the following day, marking a swift end to the walkout.

School officials reported that the return of teachers was met with relief from parents and students alike. In Dhaka’s central district, a primary school that had been closed for five days reopened with a small ceremony honoring the educators’ dedication. The school’s principal, Shirin Begum, expressed gratitude: “The teachers’ commitment to our children is unwavering. We appreciate the government’s swift action to address their concerns.”

Broader Implications for Bangladesh’s Education System

While the immediate crisis has been averted, the strike underscores persistent challenges in Bangladesh’s education sector. Experts caution that the temporary financial relief may not fully address systemic issues such as teacher training deficits, classroom overcrowding, and the uneven distribution of resources between urban and rural schools.

The Ministry of Education has already outlined a preliminary plan to review teacher pay scales and to implement a national “Infrastructure Enhancement Initiative” aimed at upgrading all primary school facilities by 2026. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on sustained political will, transparent budgeting, and continued dialogue with teachers’ unions.

As Bangladesh moves forward, the resolution of the teachers’ strike offers a reminder that equitable compensation and adequate infrastructure are fundamental to maintaining the quality of primary education. The incident also serves as a case study for the role of timely governmental intervention in averting prolonged labor disputes that can disrupt learning and erode public trust in public institutions.