Varsity teachers� demand for separate pay scale

Protest postponed till Nov

Public University teachers yesterday gave the government an ultimatum regarding fulfilling their demands till November 1 else they would have to adopt tougher measures. The teachers said they would carry out all academic activities including holding admission tests and classes till October 30after which they would decide on the further plan of action.
Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) held a formal meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at the Secretariat in the capital. They handed over a five-point proposal to the minister which included immediate formation of a pay commission for teachers to introduce separate pay scales for them and fixing salaries of senior professors as per Grade-1, professors as per Grade-2, associate professors as per Grade-3, assistant professors as per Grade-4 and lecturers as per Grade-7 after revisiting the eighth pay scale till a separate pay scale was implemented. The proposal urged the government to ensure that teachers’ salaries were in keeping with their status and dignity in society. The FBUTA leaders said they had placed the proposal to attract meritorious students to the teaching profession and create human resources.
FBUTA President Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said they were satisfied with their meeting and hoped that all their proposals and demands would be properly placed before the cabinet sub-committee so as to address disparity in salaries of public university teachers.

“We are not waging a movement for salaries; rather, it’s a movement for status of teachers. We hope the education minister will properly place our proposals before the sub-committee. We hope we will get a proper solution by November 1,” he said.
About admission tests, Prof. Farid said, “We will hold the admission test this month so that academic lives of students are not hampered.” On public university teachers teaching in private universities, he said, “The number might be 3/4 per cent. However, the teachers teach following the service rule of the university.” Secr etary General, FBUTA, Prof. Dr. A. S. M. Maksud Kamal, said, “We hope the government will give us visible assurance so that we can assure our teachers that our demands will be fulfilled. We are facing pressure from general teachers. If our demands are discarded, we will have no other option but to adopt the tougher route.”
FBUTA leaders said they would also sit with other ministers except Finance Minister AMA Muhith of the cabinet sub-committee to press their demands. “The Finance Minister has caused harm to the teachers’ community by making comments that teachers have no knowledge about. The damage caused by his speech cannot be undone,” they said.
Meanwhile, the Education Minister told journalists that he had discussed the proposals with the teachers and urged them to continue with academic activities like holding classes and exams.
“The teachers told me that they have faith in our Prime Minister. There will be no problem with exams and classes,” he said, adding, “The future of the country depends on the dignity, honour and status of teachers who are the driving force of the nation.”

Varsity teachers� demand for separate pay scale

Protest postponed till Nov

Public University teachers yesterday gave the government an ultimatum regarding fulfilling their demands till November 1 else they would have to adopt tougher measures. The teachers said they would carry out all academic activities including holding admission tests and classes till October 30after which they would decide on the further plan of action. Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA) held a formal meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at the Secretariat in the capital. They handed over a five-point proposal to the minister which included immediate formation of a pay commission for teachers to introduce separate pay scales for them and fixing salaries of senior professors as per Grade-1, professors as per Grade-2, associate professors as per Grade-3, assistant professors as per Grade-4 and lecturers as per Grade-7 after revisiting the eighth pay scale till a separate pay scale was implemented. The proposal urged the government to ensure that teachers salaries were in keeping with their status and dignity in society. The FBUTA leaders said they had placed the proposal to attract meritorious students to the teaching profession and create human resources. FBUTA President Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said they were satisfied with their meeting and hoped that all their proposals and demands would be properly placed before the cabinet sub-committee so as to address disparity in salaries of public university teachers. We are not waging a movement for salaries; rather, its a movement for status of teachers. We hope the education minister will properly place our proposals before the sub-committee. We hope we will get a proper solution by November 1, he said. About admission tests, Prof. Farid said, We will hold the admission test this month so that academic lives of students are not hampered. On public university teachers teaching in private universities, he said, The number might be 3/4 per cent. However, the teachers teach following the service rule of the university. Secr etary General, FBUTA, Prof. Dr. A. S. M. Maksud Kamal, said, We hope the government will give us visible assurance so that we can assure our teachers that our demands will be fulfilled. We are facing pressure from general teachers. If our demands are discarded, we will have no other option but to adopt the tougher route. FBUTA leaders said they would also sit with other ministers except Finance Minister AMA Muhith of the cabinet sub-committee to press their demands. The Finance Minister has caused harm to the teachers community by making comments that teachers have no knowledge about. The damage caused by his speech cannot be undone, they said. Meanwhile, the Education Minister told journalists that he had discussed the proposals with the teachers and urged them to continue with academic activities like holding classes and exams. The teachers told me that they have faith in our Prime Minister. There will be no problem with exams and classes, he said, adding, The future of the country depends on the dignity, honour and status of teachers who are the driving force of the nation.