Teachers of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University yesterday abstained from work and staged sit-ins protesting what they described as discrimination against teachers in the eighth pay scale.
During the sit-in held in front of the Arts Faculty building, Dhaka University teachers threatened to go on indefinite strike from January 11 if their demands were not met by then.
They also demanded punitive measures against government officials who had opposed the “peaceful movement” of teachers.
Bangladesh University Teachers Federation Secretary General Professor ASM Maksud Kamal spoke among others.
Meanwhile, Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association (JUTA) observed a half-day work abstention and demanded a separate pay scale for teachers. No class or examination was held at the university.
Around 50 teachers of the university joined the sit-in in front of the new Arts Faculty building at midday.
They said a separate pay scale was necessary for protecting the rights and dignity of teachers.
JUTA General Secretary Prof Mafruhi Sattar said there would be sterner protests if the demands were not met.
Prof Syed Kamrul Ahsan, dean of the Arts and Humanities Faculty, urged the government to set the minimum salary of teachers in line with the pay of teachers in other countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
