Photo: Daily Messenger
Dhaka university teachers held a full day strike and sit-in program for second consecutive day protesting the inclusion of teachers universal pension “Prottoy” scheme.
The officers and employees of the University of Dhaka are also observing the strike on Monday(02 July) with the same demand, creating a standstill situation at the university.
During the sit-in program, Professor Dr. Zinat Huda, General Secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association, said, "The honorable Prime Minister provides various allowances for the protection of freedom fighters and the elderly. Is there no protection for us (teachers)? Whenever you get the chance, you will cut our allowances, you will not give us a lump-sum pension. You will not make our eyes swim in tears. Thousands of students are looking at us."
She further said, "At the end of their careers, teachers may do something for themselves by receiving a lump-sum allowance. They spend on the higher education of their children. Our rights are being taken away."
Zinat Huda alleged, "Through this scheme, a vested quarter is trying to alienate the teachers from the Prime Minister."
Regarding the strike, Professor Dr. Nijamul Haque Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the Bangladesh University Teachers' Federation and President of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association, said, "We want the government to resolve this issue immediately.
Many benefits are being denied to the university teachers in the new Pratyay scheme. Again, we do not know what kind of facilities will be provided in the 'Sebak scheme'. Our strike is ongoing and will continue for the withdrawal of the Prottoy scheme, the implementation of the promised super-grade, and a separate pay scale for university teachers."
On the other hand, Professor Lutfur Rahman, former co-president of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association and convener of the Dhaka University White Group, said, "This pension scheme is a matter of dignity for the teachers. Those who are in favor of the pension scheme are saying this to maintain their own position. The teachers and students of the University of Dhaka have always provided direction to this nation through the struggle of the movement. So, I think this movement is also the movement of the students. Although there are differences in the ideals of the teachers in our university, we have no difference of opinion in this movement. All parties, regardless of opinion, are in agreement with this movement."
Other teacher leaders of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association were present at this time.
Participation of Officers and Employees in the Movement On the other hand, the officers and emploees of the University of Dhaka observed a protest program and a day-long strike in front of the Registrar Building from 10 am to 2 pm.
Regarding this, the President of the Officers' Association of the University of Dhaka, Md. Abdul Motaleb, told The Daily Messenger, "Our strike is demanding that public universities be excluded from the Pratyay scheme. Our continuous program will continue until this scheme is withdrawn."
The "Dhaka University Officers-Employees Unity Council", formed by the coordination of Dhaka University Officers' Association, Dhaka University Employees' Union, Dhaka University Technical Employees' Union and Dhaka University Fourth Class Employees' Union, is jointly participating in this strike.
Standstill at the University:
Due to the strike by teachers, officers and employees, the University of Dhaka has come to a standstill. The Registrar Building is the center of the university's administrative activities. As a result of the stalemate there, the entire administrative activities of the university have remained closed. In addition, all classes and exams of the 84 departments and 13 institutes of the University of Dhaka have been boycotted. As a result, academic activities have come to a standstill.
Moreover, the officers and employees of the Shahid Dr. Muhammad Murtaza Medical Center of the University are also participating in the strike, as a result of which the sick students of the university are unable to receive medical services.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Finance issued a notification of the universal pension program 'Prottoy' on March 13. This program is for the new officers and employees of Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) including all state-owned and government banks, University of Dhaka including all government universities, all corporations including Sadharan Bima Corporation, Petrobangla, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), BSTI and about 400 other organizations and institutions. It has been made effective from Monday, July 1. Those who will join these institutions from July 1 will come under this new pension scheme.
