How teacher-student movements shook edu system in 2025

The year 2025 has unfolded as one of the most turbulent in Bangladesh's education landscape, with waves of teacher and student protests sweeping across institutions-from government primary schools to private colleges, Ebtedayi madrasas, disability education centres and public universities. 

Iconic protest grounds such as Shahbagh, the Press Club, the Shaheed Minar, and the State Guest House Jamuna area repeatedly filled with hunger strikes, sit-ins and marches, stretching law enforcement thin and crippling Dhaka's traffic.

Amid rising living costs and economic uncertainty, educators say a breakdown of trust with policymakers has forced them into the streets with demands that have remained unresolved for years.

Throughout the year, teachers and staff of MPO-affiliated institutions staged persistent sit-ins, demanding fair recognition, removal of enlistment discrimination, higher house rent allowances and  solutions to budget deficits.

Non-MPO honours and master's level teachers suspended academic activities for 44 days, insisting that all recognised private colleges be brought under MPO coverage.

Government Primary and Secondary Teachers: Government primary teachers waged nationwide demonstrations demanding an upgrade from grade 13 to grade 11. The recent elevation of headmasters to grade 10 gave only partial satisfaction.

Assistant teachers in secondary schools threatened to shut down 721 institutions from December 1 unless their salary grade was upgraded from grade 10 to grade 9.

Ebtedayi Madrasa and Disability Education Movements: Independent Ebtedayi Madrasa teachers intensified their long-standing call for nationalisation, motivated by recent progress made by secondary-level educators.

Teachers of autistic and disability schools also rallied for recognition and MPO inclusion. A march toward the Chief Adviser's Office was intercepted at Kadam Foara, leaving four injured.

Dhaka Central University Controversy: The interim government's proposal to merge seven government colleges into a new Dhaka Central University triggered immediate backlash.

HSC students and BCS education cadre teachers opposed the draft ordinance, while undergraduate and graduate students demanded swift implementation to end years of academic stagnation under Dhaka University's overloaded affiliation system.

Jagannath University's Campus Demand: Jagannath University teachers and students renewed their long-standing call for a permanent campus, pausing protests only after receiving fresh government assurances.

Technical Education: A Sector on Edge: Polytechnic students staged protests pressing six major demands, including a separate ministry, a technical university, quotas in BUTEX and protection of engineering jobs they believe are being steadily privatised.

Forced Resignations After Regime Change: Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, numerous teachers were forced to resign despite ministry directives to halt such removals.

Nearly a year later, the Ministry of Education ordered reinstatement of salaries and benefits, prompting more than 100 affected teachers to stage a sit-in on January 22 seeking fast implementation.

SSC-HSC Students Join the Turmoil: Unrest spread to schools as SSC and HSC candidates demanded exam deferments, revised schedules and supplementary chances.

Students who failed formed human chains in Shahbagh, alleging an "unprecedented collapse" in results and demanding re-evaluation.

Wider Campus Unrest: Dhaka College, Dhaka City College and Ideal College witnessed repeated clashes and demonstrations disrupting academic calendars.

Kindergarten teachers rallied for reinstatement of scholarship exams, while NTRC-registered candidates from 1st to 12th batches continued long protests seeking recruitment.

Impact on Students and Education System: Delayed reforms, systemic disparities in pay and allowances, stalled promotions and administrative bottlenecks have created a deep sense of disillusionment among educators, pushing them toward unrelenting street activism.

Educationists warn that nearly 2.5 crore students-already struggling from pandemic-era setbacks-are now facing a further decline in learning outcomes.

A primary teacher said the community is trapped in "economic uncertainty, discrimination and professional instability," leaving them feeling that protests are their only remaining avenue.