Staff Reporter :
The teachers of public universities have suspended their work abstention programme against disparity in the New Pay Scale till February 23. They appeared optimistic about the success of their agitation before deadline.
Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) decided it on Thursday after a meeting of the body representing teachers of 37 public universities. FBUTA Secretary General Professor ASM Maksud Kamal made the announcement. “We will sit on February 23 to assess the development. Then we will decide the next course of action,” he said. “We are heading for a respectable solution. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is aware of our situation,” he said. He said the association would be happy if an acceptable formula was found. “If the solution is an honourable one, we will thank the government … Or else, we will announce our next programme.” Professor Kamal said that the FBUTA had held talks with four senior government officials and had one round of discussions with the University Grants Commission. “We think we are moving towards an honourable solution. But a lot depends on the mindset of the bureaucrats.” FBUTA President Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said, “We hope to reach a solution soon.”The agitation has been suspended, but the movement is on, he claimed. “We were in the midst of a movement and we still are.”
Public university teachers, who have been vocal since May last year over issue of “pay discrepancy,” across Bangladesh went on a seven-day strike last month.
They subsided and postponed their strike on January 20 after assurance from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They said that they would disclose further programme later. Several meetings were held with four government secretaries and University Grants Commission (UGC) officials to resolve the issue, he said. “We are optimistic about success.”
Meanwhile, the leading teachers’ platform FBUTA will hold meetings with Education and Finance Secretaries on February 7. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan will chair the meeting.
