A large number of public university students currently at home on Eid vacation are confused whether they should return to campuses or not as teachers have announced to boycott all academic and administrative duties from July 1 to realise their demand to withdraw Prottoy Scheme under Universal Pension Scheme.
Students flooded their Facebook and Messenger groups with queries if academic activities will remain normal in the universities from July.
Meanwhile, public university teachers on Tuesday abstained from work for half-day and announced to go for half-day work stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday too.
They also declared full-day abstention from work on June 30.
Examinations, however, were exempted from the purview of the protests.
The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association President Prof Md Akhtarul Islam and General Secretary Prof Md Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan on Monday issued a notification announcing that if the government does not withdraw the Prottoy Scheme by June 30, teachers of the public universities will not take classes, hold examinations and attend offices from July 1 for an indefinite period.
"Our classes are scheduled to begin from next week. I have learnt that teachers have announced complete abstention from duties. My family has totally opposed my intention to return to campus in this situation. If the work stoppage goes on, there will be a deadlock in classes and examinations. So Im thinking of not going back to my campus until the situation improves," Riya Modok, a fourth-year student of Finance and Banking Department at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, told the Daily Observer on Tuesday.
Sakib Rahman, a second-year student of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University who comes from Jashore, said he is confused about returning Dhaka due to the teachers movement.
Echoing the same, second-year student of Land Management and Law of the university Md Sohel Rana said, "I took all preparation to return to Dhaka. Later I came to know that teachers have announced to boycott all academic activities. Thats why I have changed my mind."
Abdullah Al Kafe, a third-year student of Public Administration Department at Jahangirnagar University, who hails from Thakurgaon said, "I don know when I will go back to my campus. I heard public university teachers are on a strike against the Prottoy Scheme. It leads me to uncertainty. Everyone wants to stay with their family members during a vacation. If it becomes prolonged due to strike then I can spend more time with my family members."
"Most of my friends are still at home. Nobody seemed returning campus right now because there won be classes and examinations. Ill return once the tension of teachers protests reduces. Better I stay home and eat my mothers recipes for the time being," said Abtahi Nahin, a Masters student of Bangla at Chittagong University.
"I intended to book a ticket earlier but cancelled my plan. Some of my friends at other departments told me that their teachers announced to hold all necessary classes and examinations by this month as there won be any class or examination from July 1. Now Im confused," said Katha Roy Jui, a masters student of English at Dhaka University.
The Finance Ministry, in a notification on March 13, announced that all officers and employees joining autonomous, self-governing, nationalised, statutory or similar organisations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be included in the Universal Pension Scheme.
