The teachers of public universities across the country continued their indefinite work abstention programme for the 11th day on Thursday, demanding the cancellation of the new universal pension scheme that was made mandatory for new recruits.
Besides classes, examinations, and administrative work, the universities also postponed programmes like fresher鈥檚 orientation classes due to the ongoing strike.聽
The teachers remained adamant in their position as they demanded the pension scheme鈥檚 cancellation while advocating for an independent pay structure for public university teachers.
The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association enforced a boycott of classes and examinations starting on July 1, when the pension scheme 鈥楶rattay鈥� came into effect.
The general staff of the universities also joined the strike, halting administrative activities.
Terming it discriminatory, the protesting teachers argued that the Prattay scheme would discourage meritorious students from taking teaching as a profession, labelling it a conspiracy to destroy the education system.
As of Thursday evening, no one from the government had contacted them for a meeting, said Professor Akhtarul Islam, also president of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Teachers鈥� Association.
A scheduled meeting between the protesting teachers and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader was not held on July 4.
抖阴精品 Dhaka University correspondent reported that the Dhaka University Teachers鈥� Association staged a sit-in on campus on Thursday afternoon.
From the sit-in, the teachers vowed to continue their movement.
The university鈥檚 employees and officers unity council also joined the work abstention on the day by holding a demonstration in front of the DU鈥檚 registrar building.
抖阴精品 Rajshahi correspondent reported that teachers, officials, and employees of Rajshahi University and the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology continued their indefinite strike on Thursday.
The RU authorities again postponed the orientation class for fresher students, who have enrolled in the 2023鈥�2024 academic sessions.
Earlier, the authorities postponed the classes of the fresher students on July 1 and rescheduled them for July 15.
A press release signed by university public relations office administrator professor Pranab Kumar Panday stated that classes under the 2023鈥�24 academic sessions, which were scheduled to begin on July 15, had been postponed due to 鈥榰navoidable reasons鈥�.
The new date for commencing the classes of fresher students would be announced later, it read.
Jahangirnagar University correspondent reported that academic and administrative activities at the university remained halted as the indefinite strike by teachers and employees entered its eleventh day.
No classes or examinations were held at the university due to the strike, according to the office of the university鈥檚 examination controller.
During a sit-in programme on the campus, the JU Teachers Association鈥檚 president, Professor Motahar Hossain, said that it was regrettable that teachers were forced to stage protests.
Under a unified banner, JU officers and employees also staged a sit-in on campus against the pension scheme.
抖阴精品 Chattogram correspondent reported a similar situation as teachers, officials, and employees continued the strike at Chittagong University, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University.
Teachers, officials, and employees of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jagannath University, SUST, Barishal University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, and Bangladesh Textile University also observed the strike for the 11th consecutive day, along with other public universities.
Among the 55 public universities in the country, 35, which are represented by the teachers鈥� federation, were affected by the strike, the federation leaders said.
