In continuation of the 10th Parliament, there has been a strong demand for MPO (Monthly Payment Order) for educational institutions at the beginning of the 11th Parliament. Senior parliamentarians have demanded that the promise of MPO for 2,000 listed educational institutions be implemented without creating bureaucratic complications. Taking part in an unscheduled discussion in the National Parliament on Monday, Awami League senior parliamentarian Mohammad Nasim and JSD president and former information minister Hasanul Haque Inu raised the demand for MP inclusion. Stating that the government is committed to MPO for teachers and officials of private educational institutions, they said, addressing the finance and education ministers, 'The promise of MPO must be implemented without creating bureaucratic complications. Otherwise, we will break the promise made to the people.' They also mentioned in their speech that teachers have cooperated with the government in various ways in the past elections.
After forming a parliamentary committee on the supplementary agenda in parliament on Monday (February 4), Mohammad Nasim took the floor and said about the MPO of educational institutions, "Lakhs of teachers in Bangladesh have been protesting for MPO a few days ago. We MPs were committed to the people regarding the MPO of teachers. The time has come to implement our election promise."
He said, "Teachers worked very hard during the election. They sincerely helped us in the election. This should not be forgotten."
Nasim said, a list of educational institutions from different regions has been given for MPO participation. A survey has also been done. About 3 thousand crore taka will be required for MPO participation. The Finance Minister gave 432 crore taka in this sector, but it did not happen. He said that he will request the new Finance Minister and Education Minister to implement it. It will have to be implemented through the supplementary budget in the current financial year. Otherwise, we will break our promise to the people.
He said, "All the MPs of the opposition party will admit that there can be no alternative to MP participation. MPO participation has been banned for a long time. Now is the time to do it. We have to do it."
Stating that the teachers are dilapidated and unenrolled, Nasim said, "During the teachers' movement for MPO, we had promised to enrol them in MPO. The elections are over. On the instructions of the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Education Minister will be kind. They will take action by being kind. I request you to implement this MPO without keeping it hanging and without keeping it in their promises. Otherwise, our promise will be broken. We will back away from the promise we made."
Addressing the Minister of Finance and Education, he said, "Implement the promise of MPO for 2,000 listed educational institutions without creating bureaucratic complications."
Hasanul Haque Inu said, the demand for teachers to be included in the MPO has expanded unprecedentedly under the leadership of the Prime Minister in the education sector. Education has been expanded extensively. Universities and medical colleges have been established in each district. One school and one college have been governmentized at the upazila level. Lakhs of teachers have been nationalized in primary schools. Infrastructure has been developed by investing crores of taka. But the demand for teachers to be included in the MPO has been ignored.
Raising the demand for MPO for teachers, he said, "We, as members of parliament, have spoken about MPO for teachers every time we have stood in the last 5 years. But the Finance Minister has not allocated the money. It was not possible to distribute the money allocated before the last election. Therefore, MPO has not been implemented. At such a stage, it is time to focus on improving the quality of education. It is time to focus on improving the quality of life of teachers. MPO is the primary step to improve their quality of life. It is our national duty to give dignity to teachers. Their MPO is essential to implement the guidelines of the constitution. Teachers will not be MPOed for just 3 thousand crore taka. This cannot happen. The government of my country is now wealthy and efficient."