Teachers of Chittagong University (CU) on Sunday formed a human chain demanding a separate pay scale for the public university teachers.
They also demanded to extend their service period until 67 years.
They came up with the demands at a human chain formed by CU Teachers’ Association (CUTA) at Chittagong central Shahid Minar premises on Sunday noon.
The CUTA leaders in the human chain said the life of the university teachers becomes miserable in consistence with their social status because of increasing living expenditure.
“The meritorious students, nowadays, get discouraged to join the noble profession teaching because of ill paid salaries and allowances and the university teachers opt for part-time jobs and consultancy”, they viewed.
The speakers feared that the universities will face a vacuum of merit and suffer serious setback in building up qualified citizens if the situation goes unabated.
Addressing the human chain cum rally, the teachers also said the public universities are playing vital role in creating merit-based and skilled human resources for long but frustration looms large among the university teachers for their poor wages.
The teachers in human chain alleged that it is very difficult to pay heed to teaching and research if there is economic insolvency but the nation will suffer when teaching and research are affected.
CUTA president Prof Benu Kumar Dey presided over the rally while CUTA General Secretary Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqui, joint-secretary Quamrul Hasan, president of Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad Prof AQM Sirazul Islam, Dr Selina Akhter, Dr Shirin Akhter, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Dr Sekandar Chowdhury and journalist Nazim Uddin Shayamal, among others, addressed it.
