M M Jasim :Academic activities may face instability in public universities following the threat of the teachers and vice-chancellors to launch a massive movement demanding review of the proposed pay scale structure. There is widespread apprehension that the situation could go beyond control as the teachers vowed to continue their movement until the demand is met. In this backdrop, the vice-chancellors of public universities on Wednesday met Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at Secretariat to press home their demand. During the meeting, the VCs warned the minister about possible instability at universities if the proposed pay scale, which was declared by the government, is not reviewed.The teachers told the minister that the current salary structure puts university teachers in the same grade with the secretaries and major generals, but the proposed scale puts of the teachers three to four tiers below them. It is an effort to degrade university teachers by creating a pay disparity. The universities will become unstable if the pay scale is not reviewed, they also said. They also threatened to launch demonstrations if their demands including selection-grade professors to be paid the same salary, allowance, benefits and status as senior-level secretaries, are not met.Bangladesh University Council’s Acting President Professor Md Alauddin gave a memorandum to the minister with arguments for a review of the pay structure.Rajshahi University VC Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin told the meeting, “The universities will become unstable if proposed pay scale is not reviewed. Steps should be taken to avoid it.”Khulna University VC Professor Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman echoed the same sentiment saying, “This is an effort to disgrace the teachers. Protests will erupt if this pay scale is implemented and it would be difficult to stop.”Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University VC Professor AKM Nurun Nabi questioned whether the proposed pay was a ‘conspiracy’ against university teachers. “It is an effort to degrade university teachers by creating a pay disparity.”Noakhali Science and Technology University VC Professor M Wahiduzzaman suggested that the Prime Minister and Education Minister may go for a separate pay scale for teachers.Dhaka University VC Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique told the meeting that he hoped the issues would be resolved through discussions.After hearing the VCs opinion, the minister said the new pay structure was not final, so the teachers need not take the ‘trouble’ of taking to the streets.”I have written to the President and Prime Minister about your demands. The letters have been sent to all concerned including Cabinet Secretary and public administration secretary,” the minister told the VCs.Nurul Islam Nahid urged the VCs to be ‘calm.’ He also said that the new pay scale was yet to be finalised.It may be mentioned that teachers of different public universities have been protesting against this pay scale for quite some time and demanding a review of the proposed structure. They also want a separate pay scale for university teachers.On May 13, a secretary-level committee screened the Bangladesh Pay and Services Commission’s recommendations and suggested the top basic pay at Tk 75,000 the minimum at Tk 8,250.The government said that the new pay scale will be effective from July 1 this year, but it is yet to be finalised.
