Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked university teachers to quit their jobs and sit for Public Service Commission (PSC) examination if they really need the status of secretaries.
Amid the public university teachers non-stop strike over the new pay scale Hasina made the comment and told them not to spoil the academic activities of students by enforcing strike in their universities.
"We've raised salaries by 123%. We will look into your problem if there is any but you can't stop the academic activities of the students and stop taking classes; students won't accept it, it’s not acceptable to anyone," she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, was addressing a mammoth public rally Monday afternoon held at Suhrawardy Udyan, marking the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.
Awami League organised the public rally with its President Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Hasina said her government wants to maintain a congenial environment for education, and steps should be there in line with that since her government has ensured session-jam-free education.
Noting that the dignity of teachers is much higher, the prime minister said if the teachers want the status equivalent to the secretaries, then she has nothing to say.
"Because my teachers are Prof Dr Anisuzzaman and Dr Rafiqul Haque… Despite being the prime minister, I respect them as my teachers and thus honour them in such way. This sense of respect also depends on the individuals concerned. It won't suit the teachers to realise their demands through stopping the academic activities of their students," she added.
Hasina said if the teachers really need the status of secretaries, then they could become secretaries quitting their jobs or through appearing before PSC exams and then there will remain no problem.
Reminding the public university teachers that her government has increased their retirement age to 65 from 59, Hasina asked them whether they want to make their retirement age at 59 like the other public servants.
"If I compare, then many things would be revealed, but I don't want to say anymore," She warned the teachers.
