• They also demanded a separate pay scale
• A full-day work abstention is being observed on Sunday at all public universities

TDS Desk:

The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association on Sunday said teachers of all public universities in Bangladesh will suspend classes and examinations if authorities do not withdraw the new universal pension scheme “Prottoy” issued by the Finance Ministry.

In a notification on Sunday, it said that the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association has been carrying out various peaceful programs for more than three months demanding the withdrawal of the “discriminatory pension scheme” and introducing a separate pay scale for the teachers.

As the government did not take any action at this time, a half-day work abstention was observed in the universities on June 25, 26 and 27 and Saturday and a full-day work abstention is being observed on Sunday.

The teachers have announced they will begin a complete work abstention from Monday if the government does not take effective action on their demands by Sunday.

This program is being coordinated by the Federation of University Teachers’ Association, a coalition of Public University Teachers’ Associations.

Dr Md Nizamul Hoque Buiyan, secretary general of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association and President of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, said: “We have not yet received any assurance from any level of the government regarding our demands. As a result, following our pre-announced program, we are proceeding with a full-day work abstention on Sunday and an all-out work abstention from Monday.”

The strike will continue until their demands are met, which include the withdrawal of the inclusion of university teachers from the Prattay Scheme, the introduction of a separate pay scale for teachers, and the inclusion of university teachers in the promised super grade.

In March, the government introduced a new scheme named “Prottoy” under the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) for newly recruited employees of autonomous, state-owned, statutory, and their subordinate bodies.

The Ministry of Finance said this scheme will be effective from Monday (July 1).

According to the SRO (No-47-Law/2024) issued on March 13 this year, all self-governing, autonomous, state-owned, statutory organizations and their subordinate bodies, officers or employees who joined on July 1 this year and after that will be entitled to the new additions.