Public university teachers observed work abstention and other programmes over pay scale grievances for the third consecutive day yesterday.
The agitating teachers said they would continue the programmes until the “pay disparities” were removed.
No classes were held at any of the major public universities as part of the indefinite strike programme yesterday. However, some important examinations and urgent academic activities were conducted under special arrangement.
Talking to reporters at a press briefing, Dhaka University Teachers Association President Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed said: “We will continue the protests until our demands are met. Discussions with the government and the agitation programmes may run in parallel.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be able to understand our demands if she sits with us. The matter has not been solved because of some bureaucrats. They want to destroy the education sector.”
Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, general secretary of DUTA, said: “We will go back to classes as soon as our demands are met.”
He hoped that the prime minister would respond positively.
Also secretary general of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Associations, Maksud said: “Our demands are rational.
The teachers have been protesting the eighth pay scale since May 2014, advocating their four-point charter of demand that includes formation of a commission to initiate an independent pay scale for public university teachers.
Other demands include immediate revision of the national pay scale, keeping senior professors and senior secretaries of the government at an equal level of payment.
The teachers have been alleging that the new pay scale ensures more facilities for the secretaries and government officials but less for teachers.
The salary of the teachers in the new pay scale remains two steps below that of the secretaries, which is not only discriminatory but also humiliating for them, they claim.
On Tuesday, FBUTA leaders met with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid in the evening to talk about the ongoing crisis. The minister hoped to solve the matter as soon as possible.
About the meeting outcomes, Maksud said: “The minister told us that the demands cannot be met until they get clearance from the Finance Ministry.
“It implies that if the movement is lingered or the demands not fulfilled, the finance minister has a role behind it. But we are not demonstrating for money, we demand the dignity as university teachers.”
In response to a query, Maksud said that they would be able to cover up the loss the students have faced if the matter was resolved quickly. The students will be affected if the movement is lingered and in that case, the government will have to shoulder the responsibilities.”
Last week, teachers observed sit-in programmes wearing black badges on their respective campuses every day from January 3 to January 7, and observed work abstention from 11am to 1pm on January 7.