M M Jasim :
The Education Ministry (EM) and the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) are hopeful of early solution of ongoing crisis in public universities.
The top bosses of the Education Ministry and the leaders of FBUTA are working together for honourable solution.
The FBUTA leaders will also submit a new proposal to the Education Ministry as the ministry had asked for it.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told The New Nation on Saturday, “We are near to a solution very soon.” “I have discussed in details with the teachers and I can tell you that the discussions were fruitful,” Nahid said.
“I am working for the teachers. I always support them. We (The ministry and FBUTA leaders) met several times in this regard. The government is cordial to discover a result,” the minister said.
President of FBUTA Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed told The New Nation on Saturday that the contours of the solution might take formal shape by Sunday”. “We have not yet gone for a formal meeting, but there are multiple efforts,” he said.
He also said that the teachers would not come back to the classes and resume their regular activities until their demands are met.
When asked about the possible session jam due to demonstration, Professor Farid said, “This may cause session jam and hamper the students’ academic life and we know also how to recover. That is why we have urged the government to take prompt action.” Secretary General of FBUTA Professor AFM Maksud Kamal said that they took part in many meetings organised by the Education Ministry, but to no avail.
Public university teachers around the country have been protesting against the 8th National Pay Scale since May last year, pressing for a four-point charter of demands, including formation of a separate commission to initiate an independent pay scale for public university teachers.
Other demands include parity between senior professors and senior secretaries and between professors and secretaries in salaries and allowances, upgrade of teachers’ status in the warrant of precedence, and equalisation of the provisions of cars, foreign and government scholarships and other allowances.
