The indefinite strike by teachers and staff of public universities entered its fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with demonstrators vowing to continue their protest and work abstention until their demands are met.
The scheduled meeting between Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) on Thursday was also postponed.
Public university teachers across the country began a work abstention last Monday, declaring that they will not return to classes or conduct exams until the government withdraws the Universal Pension Scheme “Prottoy”.
Sources indicate that classes and examinations, including regular, evening, and professional programmes, both online and offline, have been suspended at all public universities, including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University and Khulna University.
Dhaka University teachers on Thursday arranged a rally in front of the main gate of the Arts Faculty, where at least 90 teachers from 35 other public universities were present to express solidarity with the demand for their exclusion from the Universal Pension Scheme “Prottoy”.
Addressing the rally, University Teachers Association Federation Secretary General and Dhaka University Teachers Association President Dr Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan said that the “Prottoy” scheme is totally discriminatory and will provide benefits to some while depriving others.
“This pension scheme degrades our dignity and compels us to worry about our financial matters and future generations,” he said.
“University teachers’ inclusion in the pension scheme will negatively affect the profession. If teachers are included in the scheme, they will be deprived of benefits,” he added.
Asked about their expectations, Prof Nizamul said, “We are expecting the authorities to speak with us about this matter. We had a scheduled meeting today with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, but due to an urgent programme, he could not join us. We expect to talk to him soon.”
“We believe some government officials misled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by giving her false or fabricated information. If we can talk to her, the problem will be resolved,” he added.
Asked about the meeting cancellation, Abdur Rahim, joint secretary general of the University Teachers Association Federation, said that the AL general secretary might have had an important programme related to the state’s interest. “However, our need is also important and it should be taken care of with great importance. It is not ideal for a country to have its higher educational institutions closed for an extended period. We will continue our movement until our demands are heard. There is no alternative,” he added.
The finance ministry, in a notification on March 20, 2024, announced that all staff of self-governed, autonomous, state-owned, and statutory or similar organisations and their subordinate bodies, who join service on July 1, 2024, or afterwards, will be included in the Universal Pension Scheme “Prottoy”.
After the announcement of the scheme in March, teachers rejected it and demanded their exclusion from it. They also observed partial work abstention for several days and threatened on June 30 that they would go on strike from July 1 if it was not cancelled.
