Going to Wipe Teachers’ Tears on Khaleda Zia’s Birthday: Education Minister

Photo: Collected

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan has said that the government is going to “wipe the tears” of teachers on the birthday of BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, following the prime minister’s instructions.

He made the remarks on Saturday (August 15) at an event at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, where financial assistance from the Retirement Benefits Board and the Non-Government Educational Institution Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust was distributed simultaneously across all 64 districts.

Dr Milan said, “On this day, our mother of the nation, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was born. And on this day, following the prime minister’s instructions, we are going to wipe the tears of teachers.”

He said the day had previously been celebrated by spending thousands of crores of taka, but this year the prime minister has allocated Tk 2,100 crore for teachers.

According to the minister, a total of 70,019 teachers across the country are being provided with their share of retirement benefits, while 53,000 teachers are receiving welfare benefits. He described the initiative as a significant day in the country’s history.

The minister also said several initiatives could not be completed, including the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup and programmes related to technical education, which he said was a subject close to the prime minister’s heart. He expressed hope that these initiatives would be included in the government’s 180-day programme.

He said teachers are currently receiving up to Tk 600,000 in welfare benefits. Responding to questions about the remaining payments, he said the previous government had allegedly misappropriated nearly Tk 7,000 crore from the sector.

He claimed that Tk 58.79 crore had been deposited in eight banks, from which recovering the money would be very difficult. However, he said some funds deposited in state-owned banks would be recovered.

The minister further said the government currently has bond assets worth Tk 88,000 crore, including funds from the 6% and 4% contributions and money provided by the prime minister for purchasing bonds.

He said income from these assets would be used to continue the initiative that began with payments to around 123,000 beneficiaries under the welfare trust and retirement benefits programme. The remaining dues would be paid gradually next year, he added.

Recalling the history of the teachers’ welfare trust, Dr Milan said former prime minister Khaleda Zia had realised that teachers who spent their entire working lives educating the nation deserved a dignified retirement.

He said that in the past, teachers were often given a farewell ceremony, a citation, and modest gifts such as a cap, panjabi, umbrella, walking stick, a copy of the Quran and a pair of prayer beads.

“Teachers who helped build the nation cannot be sent off in this manner,” he said.

According to the minister, Khaleda Zia initially provided Tk 14 crore to the welfare trust and later allocated another Tk 89 crore to launch the initiative. He described the programme as a major achievement for teachers.

He also credited former president Ziaur Rahman with introducing a system under which private-school teachers received 50% of their salaries from the government and with beginning efforts to honour teachers.

Dr Milan said the government would continue its efforts to honour teachers and would take necessary measures through the Ministry of Education to improve the country’s education system in the coming days.