Independent Ibtedayi madrasa teachers in Bangladesh have entered the second day of a hunger strike in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding inclusion under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme and the release of pending salaries. The protest began at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with participants wearing white shrouds to symbolize their determination to continue the strike until their demands are met.

The hunger strike follows a prolonged sit-in that started on May 21 under the banner of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers’ Welfare Committee. Despite weeks of demonstrations, the teachers claim their demands remain unfulfilled. According to the organizers, teachers submitted MPO applications between July 3 and 10 of the previous year as per the Education Ministry’s public notice, but no madrasa has yet been included in the scheme.

The teachers further allege that although the ministry approved recruitment for vacant posts, salaries and allowances for newly appointed teachers have not been released since January 2026, leaving around 1,690 teachers without pay.