Thirty-four organisations of non-government high school, college and madrasa teachers and employees under four platforms yesterday observed the indefinite strike at the educational institutes crippling studies of around 1.5 crore students across the country.

Around 30,000 institutions were either closed or the teachers refrained from taking classes yesterday. Teachers and employees of these educational institutes vowed to continue their strike until their demands were met.

Their demands include 100 per cent basic salary from the government exchequer, hike in the house rent, medical allowance, festival allowance in full, and implementation of the recommendations by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the International Labour Organisation.

Over 5 lakh teachers and employees have been observing the strike under four platforms on almost identical demands.

The pro-BNP Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote led by Selim Bhuiyan yesterday announced a series of programmes alongside the indefinite strike.

The programmes include protest processions and demonstrations at upazila levels at 11:00am today, at district levels tomorrow, formation of human chains at upazila and district levels on July 13, divisional rallies from July 14 to 20 and indefinite sit-in programme in Dhaka from July 23.

At a press conference Bhuiyan said they would also bring out procession from Central Shaheed Minar and stage demonstration in front of the Shikkha Bhaban on July 11 to compel the government accept their demands.

Another faction of the Oikya Jote led by Shariful Islam went on indefinite strike yesterday threatening to continue their strike until their six-point demand was met.

Blaming the education minister for the anomalies in the education sector, Shariful demanded resignation of Education Minister Osman Farruk.

"We are fighting for rightful demands," said Kazi Faruque, chief co-ordinator and convenor of Shikkhak Karmachari Front that went on indefinite strike last Saturday. He said it was the election pledge of the ruling BNP to give 100 per cent basic salary to the teachers from the government exchequer.

Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Parishad Convenor MA Awal Siddique said they have already formed upazila and district committees and taken a number of programmes including rallies and processions at upazila level for two days every week.

Meanwhile teachers of government colleges, training colleges and Alia madrasas, under the banner of BCS General Education Association, will hold a rally in front of the Shikkha Bhaban in the capital today demanding departmental promotions and creation of new posts.