Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said, “Education is the backbone of a nation, and the foundation of that backbone is the teaching community. Teachers, as the architects of human character, play a unique role in shaping the nation and society. No country or society can achieve progress by neglecting its teachers.”

He expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty for enabling the MPO-listed teachers to partially achieve their demands through their movement and extended his sincere congratulations to all the teachers who took part in the movement.

He made these remarks while addressing a delegation of teacher leaders who met with him at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on October 21 evening.

Among others, Secretary General of Bangladesh Ideal Teachers Federation Professor A.B.M. Fazlul Karim, member of Jamaat’s Central Education Department Principal Maulana Dr. Khalilur Rahman Madani; Professor Md. Robiul Islam, Assistant Secretary of the Federation; Professor A.J.M. Kamal Uddin, Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh College Teachers Association; Maulana Abdus Sabur Matbar, Secretary of Madrasa Teachers Association; Principal Md. Sirajul Islam, President of Kindergarten Teachers Association; Principal Dr. Sakhawat Hossain, President of Primary Teachers Association; Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, President of Madrasa Teachers and Employees Forum; Md. Nurul Amin Helali, President of MPO-listed Teachers Association; Vice Presidents Md. Rakibul Hasan and Md. Mizanur Rahman Mahin; General Secretary Md. Ashraful Jaman Hanif; Presidium Member Abu Taleb Sohag; Members Md. Amzad Hossain, Md. Habibullah, Md. Tofazzal Hossain; and Md. Golam Azam, President of Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers Association were present on the occasion.

Professor Mujibur Rahman further said that it is the responsibility of the state to provide due respect and dignity to teachers. Teachers must be given the status of first-class citizens so that they can live honorably in society. He said, “In developed countries, an average of 7 percent of the national budget is allocated to education, while in our country it is only 1.67 percent — which is shameful for the nation.” He urged the government to allocate at least 3 to 4 percent of the upcoming national budget for the education sector.

He added that to ensure the rightful dignity of teachers, the entire education system must be nationalized, and existing disparities within the education sector must be eliminated. At the same time, teachers’ basic needs such as food, clothing, education, healthcare, and housing must be guaranteed.

He noted that more than 600,000 teachers across the country have partially achieved their demands through a long struggle. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, various political parties, and people from different professions who supported and cooperated with the movement. He said, “May Allah reward everyone abundantly in this world and the Hereafter.”

On behalf of the teacher representatives, Md. Delwar Hossain, Member Secretary of the Nationalization-Seeking Alliance of MPO-listed Teachers, addressed the meeting. He said, “On behalf of six lakh teachers, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its leaders for their wholehearted support and cooperation with the teachers’ movement.”

He also extended gratitude to all political parties, professional leaders, officials, employees, and well-wishers who supported and cooperated with the teachers’ just demands.