DU Correspondant :
Teachers at public universities across Bangladesh are set to abstain from delivering their job from July 1 as a protest against their inclusion in the universal pension scheme.
This move aims to pressure the government to exclude university teachers from the scheme.
The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) announced the new phase of the ongoing protest at a press conference held at Dhaka University (DU)’s Arts Building.
Terming the pension scheme as discriminatory, the teachers association demanded the cancellation of the Finance Ministry’s notification regarding universal pensions for teachers. They also called for their inclusion in the ‘supergrade’ and a separate pay scale.
The teachers declared that if their demands are not met, they will observe a half-day work stoppage from June 25 to July 27 and a full-day work stoppage on June 30, excluding examinations. Should these actions fail to yield results, the teachers will go on an indefinite break in service from July 1 until their demands are met.
Teachers observed a half-day rest from work and later organized a press briefing at DU’s Arts Building on Tuesday.
FBUTA President Prof. Dr. Md Akhtarul Islam, Secretary General Prof. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, and Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) General Secretary Zeenat Huda, along with other teachers’ leaders, were present.
The protest was held simultaneously at public universities across the country, including Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, and Chittagong University, to press their demands.
“It is not the sole interest of teachers. Rather, the teachers are protesting for the sake of the country and the nation. University teachers of all opinions stand behind this movement,” stated FBUTA President Prof. Dr. Md Akhtarul Islam.
Expressing regret and frustration, Prof. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan added, “We have gone through a series of peaceful protest programs but no effective action has been taken by the government so far. And it is regrettable and frustrating that no responsible person or authority has contacted the teachers.”
On March 13, the finance ministry announced that all officers and employees joining the service of autonomous, self-governing, nationalized, statutory, or similar organizations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be included in the universal pension scheme