Public university teachers abstain from work demanding separate pay-scale

Public university teachers have enforced a three-hour 'no work' demanding a separate pay scale and review of the proposed 8th national pay scale.

After their protest demonstration from 10am to 1pm on Sunday, they warned of more intense agitation.

The agitprop plan for Bangladesh University Teachers Federation also included rallies, signature campaigns and spot agitations.

They demanded that selection-grade professors be paid the same salary, allowance, benefits and status as senior-level secretaries.

The current salary structure puts university teachers in the same grade with the secretaries and major generals, but the proposed one lowers the pay of the teachers three to four tiers below them.

Teachers of different universities have been protesting against this for quite some time now and demanding a review of the proposed structure. They also want a separate pay scale for university teachers.

On May 13, a secretary-level committee evaluated the Bangladesh Pay and Services Commission’s recommendations and suggested the top basic pay at Tk 75,000 the minimum at Tk 8,250.

The government said that the new pay scale will be effective from July 1 this year, but it’s yet to be finalised.

bdnews24.com’s Dhaka University correspondent said the teachers gathered at the university club at 10am in keeping with their declared schedule. More than 700 signatures were collected and teachers of all political orientation joined the rally pressing for the demands.

The federation’s Chief Farid Uddin Ahmed, also the chairman of Dhaka University Teachers Association, said the agitation was held in 38 universities across the country.

“If our demands are not met, we will be forced to call for more intense protests."

He said they would hold the same programme on next Sunday as well.

Rajshahi University Teachers Association chief Ananda Kumar Saha warned they were planning continuous'no work' if the demands are not met.

“If no progress is made in tomorrow’s cabinet meeting about our pay-scale, then we will abstain from work for the whole day on Sunday, Aug 23.”