FBUTA expels Jagannath University teachers’ body for ‘violating’ organisational rule

The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) has expelled the Jagannath University Teachers’ Association (JnUTA) from the alliance hours after the latter announced its decision to boycott admission tests.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 Oct 2015, 03:59 PM
Updated : 7 Oct 2015, 04:20 PM

Uncertainty looms over the Jagannath University (JnU) entry exam as its agitating teachers on Wednesday afternoon decided on a boycott barely two days ahead of the first test.
 
The platform of teachers of Bangladesh’s public universities, FBUTA, in a statement later in the evening said JnUTA had been expelled for breaching organisational rules.
 
It added the expulsion would be effective from Wednesday.
 
The FBUTA has been demonstrating for the past few months for a revision of the eight national pay scale, which fell short of their demands.
 
They have also demanded a separate pay structure for the teachers.
 
On Tuesday, after a meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid failed to produce any result, they threatened to stay away from work indefinitely from Nov 1 if the government did not meet their demands.
 
FBUTA Secretary General Prof ASM Maksud Kamal on Wednesday told bdnews24.com: “A meeting on Sep 10 had decided that only the federation will announce any programmes. No one will announce separate programmes.”
 
“It was also decided that if any organisation chose its own course of action by going against the federation’s rules, it will be expelled.”

Kamal, also the general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, said, “The federation in Tuesday’s meeting decided that teachers will attend and take all the exams and the admission tests slated to be held this month. But they (JnUTA) have decided to boycott the (entry) tests.”

“The president and secretary general (of FBUTA) have the power to expel. Jagannath University Teachers’ Association has been expelled in line with the previous decisions,” he added.

JnUTA chief Prof Ali Noor told bdnews24.com earlier in the day that the decision to boycott their university’s entrance tests was ‘their own’.

After their expulsion from the FBUTA, he said, “I’ve heard it. I think this decision has been taken because we decided to boycott the admission tests.”

However, JnUTA General Secretary Prof Abul Hossain said, “We are a member of the federation. But membership doesn’t mean that we will simply toe its line.”

“We have the rights to announce programmes on our own. That’s why we took our decision,” he added.

Jagannath university authorities are yet to make any formal announcement whether the ‘B’ unit test slated for Friday will be postponed, as the teachers remain firm on their boycott decision.

Vice-Chancellor Mizanur Rahman on Wednesday said the Academic Council would hold an urgent meeting on Thursday to resolve the issue before the tests begin.

The uncertainty over the honours entrance exams developed after public university teachers started their movement against the recently announced pay scale.

Apart from this Friday’s ‘B’ unit test, the exam of ‘C’ unit in Jagannath University is scheduled for Oct 16, ‘A’ unit for Oct 30, ‘D’ unit Nov 6 and ‘E’ unit entry test is slated for Nov 13.