A section of secondary-level teachers of schools under the Monthly Pay Order system went for an indefinite strike on Sunday across the country, demanding the nationalisation of their jobs and the end of discrimination against non-government teachers.

Some teachers said that they could not join the strike due to political pressure and fear of facing harassment.

During a sit-in for the sixth consecutive day in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday, they said that they would continue their movement until their demands were met by raising their pay scale to the same level as teachers of government schools.

Hundreds of teachers, under the banner of the Bangladesh Teachers’ Association, started the strike in the morning.

They blocked the road in front the National Press Club at about 10:00am.

They were seen chanting slogans to press home their demands.

Meanwhile some schools in the capital under MPO system, including Rayerbazar High Schoo, Kakoli High School and College, Dhanmondi High School, Dakkhin Banasree Model High School and College and New Model High School and College, were seen taking classes as usual.

A teacher of the Dakkhin Banasree Model High School and College said that they could not join the strike due to political reason.

Some school authorities also made the same comments.

They said that it was difficult for the teachers in the capital to join the strike.

The association president Md Bazlur Rahman told New Age that many teachers could not join the strike due to political pressure.