Notification issued increasing house rent for teachers by 5 percent

The government has issued a notification increasing the house rent allowance of MPO-listed teachers and employees working in private educational institutions by 5 percent of the basic salary and a minimum of Tk 2000.
This information was given in a notification signed by Maryam Mitu, Deputy Secretary of the Regulations Sub-Division of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Finance on Sunday (October 19) morning.
It said that the Finance Department has agreed to increase the house rent allowance of MPO-listed teachers and employees working in private educational institutions.
The notification also said that considering the existing budget constraints of the government, house rent allowance has been provided at the rate of 5 percent of the basic salary (minimum Tk 2000) for MPO-listed teachers and employees working in private educational institutions, which will fulfill the following conditions. This order will be effective from November.
The notification has added some conditions for the payment of house rent to teachers. They are-

1. House rent allowance will have to be adjusted according to the next national pay scale.
2. The terms and conditions of appointment should be followed in accordance with the Private Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy-2021, Private Educational Institutions (Madrasa) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy-2018 (revised up to 23 November 2020) and Private Educational Institutions (Vocational, Business Management, Agriculture Diploma and Fisheries Diploma) Manpower Structure and MPO Policy-2018 (revised up to 23 November 2020) and the relevant notifications/orders/circulars/policies issued by the government from time to time.
3. In case of the mentioned increase in allowance, private teachers/employees under MPO will not get any arrears.
4. All financial rules and regulations should be followed while paying the allowance.
5. If any irregularities occur in the expenditure related to this allowance in the future, the bill paying authority will be responsible for the said irregularities.
   It is to be noted that the teachers under MPO have been agitating for a long time demanding an increase in house rent allowance. Last August, they held a mass rally in Dhaka demanding one percent of their basic salary as house rent allowance. But ignoring their demands, the Finance Ministry issued a notification on September 30 increasing the house rent by only Tk 500. Rejecting the notification, the teachers have been protesting since October 12 with three demands, including a 20 percent increase in house rent.