No classes, no exams: Public uni teachers start their indefinite strike for withdrawal of new pension scheme
No classes or exams have taken place on the Dhaka University campus since this morning
With the demand for the withdrawal of the "Prottoy" universal pension scheme, teachers at public universities nationwide, including Dhaka University, suspended all academic and administrative activities indefinitely starting today (1 July).
No classes or exams have taken place on the campus since this morning.
"The protest against the new pension scheme has already begun with the suspension of academic activities. It will continue until the government withdraws the scheme," said Dr Akhtarul Islam, president of the Bangladesh University Teachers Samity Federation.
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However, visiting the geography department of Dhaka University, it was observed that administrative activities that do not involve the teachers stayed open in the department.
The Faculty of Social Sciences building, however, remained closed.
"Some of the administrative offices are open. But all classrooms are locked," said Fariha, a geography department student.
Dr Md Nizamul Hoque Buiyan, president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA), said they have called on a two-day-long activity with teachers' demands.
"Our program will begin at 12pm in front of the Faculty of Arts today and continue til 1pm," he said.
DUTA General Secretary Professor Zeenat Huda said, "This scheme aims to strip universities of their merit. The Prottoy scheme is cutting our Eid bonus and Pohela Boishakh bonus. How much more will be taken away? We have repeatedly protested but have seen no results."
"We previously constituted a five-member committee and submitted a report with signatures from around 1,100 teachers. We even held a meeting with the Education minister. However, no progress has been made since that meeting," she added, noting that the teachers' protest will continue until their demands are met.
"This struggle is not separate from our students. Don't spread any confusion," she warned.
"We must identify those responsible for preventing teachers from advancing to the Supergrade," the DUTA general secretary said during the sit-in protest.
She also questioned the authority's power that allowed them to cut short the bonuses and provident fund contributions.
Today is also the 104th founding anniversary of Dhaka University. Students were seen attending the program at TSC amid light rain.
Rajshahi
Teachers at Rajshahi University also protested for the same cause. They halted all classes and academic activities today.
Teachers took position in front of the Senate building of Rajshahi from 11am to 12pm today. During that time Rajshahi University Teachers Association General Secretary Professor Md Omar Farooq Sarker urged for cancelling the "Prottoy Scheme". If the scheme is not withdrawn subsequent programmes will be taken up, he warned.
Khulna
Teachers of Khulna University and Khulna Univeristy of Engineering and Technology also held protest.
The programme of Khulna University includes boycotting classes and exams of all disciplines, online, evening classes, professional course classes on Friday and Saturday. All types of administrative work like admissions and recruitment, promotions will also be halted.
Khulna University Teachers Association President Prof SM Feroze said, this all-out strike programme will be observed until the demands of withdrawing the discriminatory and degrading "Prottoy" pension scheme for teachers, introduction of individual pay scale, and inclusion of super grade A university teachers are met.
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Teachers Association President Prof Md Abdul Hasib said, in solidarity with the Bangladesh Inter-University Employees' Federation, the strike and sit-in programme has been conducted by the employees' association to demand that the employees working in public universities be exempted from the scope of this discriminatory public pension law and to withdraw the uniform policy enacted by the Bangladesh University Grants Commission.
Cumilla
The teachers and officials of Cumilla University also held a protest today.
The teachers held a sit-in programme in front of the administrative building of the university and boycotted all classes and exams. President of the University Teachers Association Prof Md Abu Taher, General Secretary Md Mehdi Hasan, member Professor Dulal Chandra Nandi and others spoke at the protest.
President of the University Teachers Association Prof Md Abu Taher said, "there is nothing but respect in the teaching profession. Imposing such a pension scheme on them is inhumane. We will continue the movement in solidarity with the federal."
On 13 March, the government introduced the Prottoy scheme for employees who join public universities and other organisations that fall under the scheme from 1 July 2024 onwards.
However, those who joined these institutions before 1 July 2024 will continue to receive pension benefits as before.
In addition to public universities, employees working in autonomous, state-owned, and other statutory organisations, along with their subordinates, will also fall under the pension scheme, which is set to be implemented from Monday.
Public university teachers have been protesting against their inclusion in the Prottoy scheme since it was announced. They have vowed to continue their protest until the Prottoy scheme is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the National Pension Authority said that they are ready to implement the scheme from Monday as per the government's decision.
