Dhaka, June 3 -- The teachers of Ebtedayee madrasas will start "fasting unto death" from Sunday if the BNP government does not entitle them to the monthly pay order (MPO) by this week as promised by the interim administration.

Under the banner of the "Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers' Welfare Committee", the protesters announced the decision while holding a sit-in programme outside the National Press Club on Wednesday.

They demand that the madrasas be brought under MPO coverage by Thursday.

The teachers have been holding the sit-in programme in front of the Press Club for 14 days, declaring the madrasas "closed indefinitely".

Earlier in the day, they began marching towards the Secretariat but were obstructed by police.

However,...