The Federation of Bangladeshi University Teachers Association (FBUTA) on Sunday decided to continue their work abstention until the government issues a circular withdrawing the contentious Universal Pension Scheme Prottoy.
In a press release, FBUTA President Prof Md Akhtarul Islam and General Secretary Prof Md Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, requested all teachers of public universities across the country to continue complete work abstention and hold hour-long sit-in demonstrations on their respective campuses until their three-point demand is met.
The demands include withdrawal of the Prottoy Scheme, placing teachers in super grade and introduction of a separate salary structure for university teachers.
FBUTA said that its meeting with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and top Awami League leaders on Saturday opened the door for further discussions for a solution. The striking teachers rejected Quaders call to start classes and resolve to continue their work abstention until government issues circular to withdraw the Prottoy Scheme.
Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, told reporters that he would convey the teachers demands to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on Sunday said that she received the written demands of the protesting teachers. However, she but did not give any decision on the demands of the public university teachers who are now on full work abstention for an indefinite period.
She said teachers have some misconceptions.
Sheikh Hasina said, "As they intend to continue the movement, let them do that. Once they get tired of it, Ill speak about it. There is no need to speak about it advance."
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 July 1, teachers, officers and employees of public universities have been abstaining from all duties including taking classes and holding examinations.
The teachers said Prottoy Scheme seeks to curtail many of their existing benefits.
