Public university teachers on Sunday observed complete work abstention for the fifth day demanding withdrawal of the newly introduced Prottoy Scheme, branding it illogical and discriminatory.
Teachers said they would continue their protest demonstrations at the universities across the country until the government accepts their three point demands.
Their demands include withdrawal of the Prottoy Scheme, placing teachers in super grade and introduction of a separate salary structure for teachers.
Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUT) President Prof Md Akhtarul Islam on Sunday critisised the government for its indifference towards the teachers movement although seven days of complete work stoppage has passed.
Prof Akhtar said, "They are trying to completely destroy this education system. Where all public universities of the country are closed for a week, they do not even pay heed."
"We are quietly protesting. They think we can do anything. Do they prefer roadblocks? Do they like vandalism? If not, did they feel the need to give us a call once? Many think we are agitating for a salary increase. But its not," said Prof Akhter.
He added teachers would return to classes when their demands would be realised.
Prof Akhter said this during the sit-in protest in front of Dhaka University (DU) Arts Building at noon on Sunday.
FBUTA General Secretary and also DU Teachers Association (DUTA) President Prof Md Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan and DUTA General Secretary Prof Zinat Huda spoke at the sit-in protest, among others.
Our Jagannath University (JnU) Correspondent added that that teachers of the university held sit-in protest at the universitys Shaheed Minar from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
JnU Teachers Association General Secretary Shaikh Masrick Hasan requested the government to accept their demands so that they can return to class and avoid session jams.
Md Momin Uddin, Acting President of the JnU Teachers Association, sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas intervention to withdraw the discriminatory Prottoy Scheme.
Officers and employees of the public universities also held sit-in protests on their respective campuses simultaneously.
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 Prottoy Scheme under the Universal Pension Scheme.
Since the announcement by the Finance Ministry, teachers, officers and employees of public universities held protest demonstrations on campuses across the country.
They said the proposed Prottoy Scheme will curtail many existing benefits.
