Rangpur Bureau

 A discussion meeting and a colorful rally were held at Rangpur Town Hall on the occasion of International Teachers’ Day organized by the Rangpur District and Metropolitan Branch of "Bangladesh Adorsha Shikkhok Federation" on Sunday at 11 am.

 Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, Central Advisor of the Adarsha Shikkhok Federation, eminent educationist and MP candidate for Rangpur 3 constituency, was present as the chief guest in the discussion meeting and rally.

Chief guest Prof Mahbubur Belal said in his speech, “After the July revolution, we hoped that the misrule would end and a welfare state would be established. But sadly, it seems that a special group is working to perpetuate the scars of the long-standing fascist rule. They have no remorse. They want to maintain the old authoritarian style by keeping Sheikh Hasina’s constitution intact — which is a betrayal of the nation.”

He also said, “If there are no reforms in the education, election and judicial systems, the sacrifices of the martyrs will be in vain. If this system is maintained, no election will be effective in the country. We will not allow new thieves, new robbers or new terrorism to be established in this country.”

Regarding the plight of teachers, Professor Belal said, "Teachers have been made a laughing stock in the current education system. When a teacher receives house rent and medical allowance, it is not an honor; it is an insult to teachers. Non-Government teachers have to wait for long times to get retirement allowance and welfare allowance, which is a naked example of the state's negligence towards the education system." He believes that the development of the education system is never possible by leaving teachers hungry.

The program, chaired by the president of the Federation's Rangpur Metropolitan Branch, Golam Mostafa  and moderated by Mashiur Rahman and Shah Muhammad Hafizur Rahman, was addressed as special guests by the Federation's Rangpur Metropolitan Advisor and distinguished educationist Vice-Principal ATM Azam Khan, District Branch Advisor Maulana Enamul Haque, Metropolitan Branch KM Anwarul Haque Kajal, Professor Raihan Siraji, Professor Abul Kalam Azad, Alamin Hasan, Adv  Kausar Ali, among others.

Prof Zillur Rahman Munshi, Mafiz Uddin Sarkar and Aminul Islam also spoke on behalf of the teacher leaders at the discussion meeting.

After the discussion meeting, a rally on the occasion of International Teachers' Day began at the Town Hall, went around the city's city market, and ended with the closing speech of the president.