Despite the directions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 786 technical teachers appointed in 49 government polytechnic institutes in the country are not getting salaries and allowances for 18 months due to prolonged liquidity in the transfer process.
Suman Haider, president of the technical wing of Amra Muktijudher Santan, made the claim at a press conference held at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club at 11:00am on Tuesday, said a press release.
He said that in July 2010, the government adopted the scheme titled Skills and Training Enhancement Project (STEP) to improve the quality and teacher skills of government polytechnic institutes in the country to expand technical education, which continued till June 30, 2019.
“Under the scheme, the government employs 1,015 teachers in two phases (777 currently working) following all the quotas of recruitment rules in 49 government polytechnic institutes in the country. In the last financial year 2019-2020, 786 teachers were paid salary allowances from the government's allocation,” he said.
The process of transferring a total of 786 teachers of the project to the revenue sector has not been carried out in a long span of time despite the discipline/guidance of the prime minister, he said adding “In the wake of the pandemic, we have been spending the last eighteen (18) months in a very inhumane and anxious state without getting salary allowances. In the meantime, taking into account the 786 teachers and their families and the children of brave freedom fighters, I humbly request them to take necessary measures to complete the work expeditiously and get the salary allowance under the directions of the prime minister.”
Syed Omar Farooq, general secretary of the technical wings of Amra Muktijudher Santan said, “We are living a better life without getting salary allowance. It's been 18 months without pay. Two colleagues died due to the lack of treatment as they could not treat cancer. A colleague died in a road accident resulting in his family starving. We want a rapid implementation of the prime minister's directive.”
He also sought the prime minister’s intervention in the process of paying the dues and shifting their jobs to the revenue sector expeditiously.
At the end of the press conference, technical teachers held a human chain in front of the press club.
Mostafa Kamal, son of Birshrestha Lance Nayek Noor Mohammad Sheikh; Syed Omar Farooq, General Secretary (Technical wings) of Amra Muktijudher Santan; Chhaora Parveen and Aminul Islam, Junior Instructor, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute; Mehdi Hasan Danial, Son of Bir Bikram Shah Ali Akand and Instructor, Sirajganj Polytechnic Institute, Rezaul Karim, Instructor, Shariatpur Polytechnic Institute, teachers of various polytechnic institutes across the country were also present at the press conference.
