DHAKA: Across Bangladesh, millions of students are being forced to study from home after their teachers went on strike three weeks ago demanding higher wages.

The students were preparing for half yearly exams when the teachers launched the indefinite work stoppage from July 5, closing about 28,000 schools and colleges across the south Asian nation.

In one of Asia’s poorest nations, the crisis is adding to the stress of students for whom a good education and good grades can mean the difference between a life condemned to poverty and the chance to earn a good wage.

“It is really disturbing that we are missing classes for such a long time. Definitely it’s pushing us backward,” said Monir Hossain, a student at a Dhaka school.

“The government should take immediate step to break the deadlock and reopen the schools,” he added.

Some students said they were saddened by the teachers’ plight and supported the strike.

“We often lose classes due to political programmes like general strikes and other disturbances. Making up the losses is very difficult,” said Akhinoor Akhtar, a ninth grade student at Dhaka’s Mirpur Adorsho High School.

“Still, I have full support for the striking teachers,” she told Reuters on Tuesday. “I feel very much for them. If they feel financially insecure, its very difficult for them to concentrate on teaching.”

The strike involves thousands of teachers at non-government schools who say they want their salaries to match their state colleagues.

“We are virtually on death row ... why should we live if we cannot provide the minimum provisions to our children,” said Halima Khatun, a teacher from outside Dhaka.

“We have been forced to go on strike as our backs are against the wall now, especially as prices of goods have gone beyond our reach in recent months,” said Shafiqur Rahman, a teacher in eastern Brahmanbaria district, referring to recent price rises of food, fuel and electricity.—Reuters