The teachers of public universities announced on Thursday that a resolution to their demand for the cancellation of the new universal pension scheme Prattay was anticipated soon.
They, however, remained committed to continuing their indefinite work abstention programme until their demands were met.
The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Associations had deemed the scheme discriminatory and initiated a boycott of classes and examinations from July 1, the day the pension scheme came into effect.
Their ongoing strike aims to address three demands, including the inclusion of public university teachers in the super grade, under which senior secretaries are paid, and the establishment of an independent pay structure for public university teachers.
Administrative activities have also been halted as the general staff of the universities joined the strike.
On July 16, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh requested all public and private universities to remain closed and vacate student residential halls until further notice.
Some federation leaders indicated ongoing discussions between the federation and the government, expressing hope for a swift resolution.
FBUTA president professor Md Akhtarul Islam reiterated on Thursday that the movement would persist until their demands were fully addressed.
鈥榃ith universities now closed, we have postponed our sit-in programmes,鈥� he said.
Of the 55 public universities in the country, 35 are represented by the teachers鈥� federation as they have vice-chancellors and other key officials, according to the federation leaders.
Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Islamic University in Kushtia, Chittagong University, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University are among these 35 universities.
On July 13, the ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader urged the teachers to call off their strike, promising to consider their demands, later. He added that teachers would be included in the pension scheme from July 2025.
A gazette notification issued on March 14 mandated that all officials and employees joining state-owned autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies from July 1, 2024, must be included in the new pension instrument.
The teachers鈥� primary demand is to exclude them from this scheme entirely, rather than deferring the inclusion process.
