Academic and administrative activities at public universities across Bangladesh ground to a halt on Monday as teachers and staff launched an indefinite strike demanding the withdrawal of the universal pension scheme.
The strike, organized under the Federation of University Teachers' Association, saw professors boycotting classes and exams, while officers and employees also joined the protest. The movement follows various previous programs, including meetings, human chains, and work stoppages.
"We have received no assurances from the government regarding our demands," said Professor Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Secretary General of the Federation of University Teachers Association. "The universities will remain in a deadlock until our demands, including the inclusion of university teachers in supergrade and a separate pay scale, are met."
At Dhaka University, classes and exams were suspended, and office activities ceased. The central library was also closed, leading to student unrest. Angry students, who were unable to access the library, vandalized its entrance.
"This movement is for the students," said Prof. Zeenat Huda, General Secretary of the DU Teachers' Association, in response to the incident. "The Ministry of Finance should explain why students cannot enter the library and why teachers had to resort to closing it."
Jagannath University saw similar disruptions, with teachers and staff striking and all academic and administrative activities halted. "We have boycotted classes and exams to meet our logical demands," said Associate Professor Sheikh Mashrik Hasan, General Secretary of the University Teachers' Association.
At Jahangirnagar University, an indefinite strike commenced on Monday, with teachers and staff united in their protest. All educational and administrative activities were suspended, and the campus appeared deserted. "The government's stubborn decision is responsible for the stagnation of our education system," said Professor Md. Motahar Hossain, President of Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association.
An all-out program is being held in Rajshahi University and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) to demand cancellation of the 'Prottoy Scheme', a universal pension policy in government jobs. A shutdown situation prevailed in the campus on Monday as teachers and staff boycotted class-exams and office activities.
Professor Habibur Rahman, President of Rajshahi University Teachers Association, said that the teachers have boycotted the class-examination to get the demand. Until the demands are met, the movement will continue.
Professor Kamruzzaman, President of RUET Teachers' Association, said that teachers have taken to the streets against discrimination. Which was not desirable at all. The movement will continue until the demands are met. Academic and administrative activities of the university are currently closed. Undergraduate first year admission program has been stopped due to unavoidable reasons. But exams are going on in different departments. Many departments have scheduled exams this month. Students have suffered due to the comprehensive program.
An all-out strike is underway in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University due to non-action of withdrawal of notification regarding confirmation scheme, inclusion of university teachers in super grade and introduction of individual pay scale for teachers. The teachers said that all classes, exams, meetings, seminars will be closed until the demand is met.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Teachers Association President Prof. Dr. Md. Ahiduzzaman expressed the hope that the government will cancel the verification scheme soon and take immediate steps to bring the teachers back to their classes, examinations and research work.
Teachers of Patuakhali University of Science and Technology, like all over the country, have been on continuous strike and sit-in strike, demanding cancellation of discriminatory pension notification, introduction of super grade and individual pay scale. On Monday morning, the strike started under the leadership of Professor Jehad Parvez, the president of Patuakhali University of Science and Technology Teachers' Association and General Secretary Professor Dr. Md. Asaduzzaman Mia at the main gate of the academic building of the university.
The all-out strike by teachers has come to a standstill in the regular education activities of Begum Rokeya University. Silence prevails in places of academic engagement. Students did not come to the campus due to pre-scheduled program of the teachers and no exams were held. Most of the classrooms and examination rooms were locked. Bijan Mohan Chaki, president of Begum Rokeya University Teachers' Association, said that all classes, examinations, coordination meetings, admission activities will be closed until the demands of the teachers are met.
The teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Agricultural University have started an indefinite strike from Monday. There was no class-examination in Shahjalal University of Science and Technology on Monday due to teachers' agitation. Teachers Association President Mohammad Anwar Hossain said that Prottoy pension scheme is extremely discriminatory. Teachers are being deprived of all the benefits of the previous pension scheme. So the movement will continue until the demands are met.
The teachers-officers-employees of Chittagong University are on a complete strike demanding the cancellation of the certification scheme.
As a result, the examination of seven sections of Chittagong University has been stuck. Apart from this, the inaugural class of 2023-24 academic year has also been cancelled.
However, the teacher leaders have assured the students to compensate this loss with extra classes. The teachers held a sit-in program at the office of the University Teachers' Association. ABM Abu Noman, General Secretary of Chittagong University Teachers Association, said that our strike will continue until the pension scheme issued by the Ministry of Finance is cancelled. During this time, the class-exams of all departments of the university will be closed.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on July 2 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
