Varsity teachers postpone strike
February 3 deadline set
The public university teachers yesterday (Tuesday) suspended their movement following the assurance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and said they would return to classes from today (Wednesday). But at the same time they said the government has to meet their demands within February 3, and they will not accept any delay or partial acceptance of their demands. They said if the demand for removal of the discrimination in the grading system in the eighth national pay scale is not met within the given time, they will take the next step after holding a meeting of their Federation on February 3. Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, secretary general of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA), told this to journalists after a meeting at the Dhaka University Teachers Club. The teachers of 37 public universities began their indefinite work abstention on January 11.
We have suspended, not withdrawn, the movement after getting an assurance from the Prime Minister. We trust her firm leadership, Kamal said. He, however, said: The Federation will not accept any delay by the bureaucracy to accept our demands, or if they are met partially on any pretext, we will not accept it. We think it will not be delayed as we have placed our proposals before the Prime Minister. We also want inclusion of leaders of the Federation in the committee set up by the government to study our demands. If this is not done, it will be deemed as negligence.
He further said: We hope the government will accept our demands by February 3. Within this time, we will review the activities of the government to meet our demands. Otherwise, we have a meeting of the Federation scheduled on the day, and we will take the next decision if the demands are not accepted.
The public university teachers have been carrying out various forms of agitation for the last eight months, saying they have been relegated in the new pay scale. They have held talks with different quarters of the government to find a solution. Finally, they decided to abstain from work from January 11.
The work abstention put the students in uncertainty, as they fear a session jam which will hamper their academic career. On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the Federation leaders to her official residence, Gana Bhaban, to hear them out.
After a meeting of one-and-a-half hours, the teachers appeared before the media and said they were assured by the Prime Minister that she herself would see to it that their demands were accepted. They also said that they would hold a meeting on Tuesday and take a decision on taking classes.
With no classes being held, many students left the halls for their village homes. After hearing the news that classes would be held from Wednesday, the students expressed joy and happiness.
Saddam Hossain, a third year student of the Law Department of Dhaka University, said: We feel relieved. We also want a peaceful solution to the teachers problems so that our academic life is not hampered.
The teachers are resources of the nation. The demands of the teachers should be met. We are happy that classes will begin tomorrow. But we dont want such a situation again. The government should take steps in this regard, Shafique, a student of the Sociology Department of Dhaka University, said.
Students of other public universities expressed similar feelings.
