The ongoing strike enforced by public university teachers demanding review of the new pay scale, and a separate pay scale have already paralysed universities across the country. About 15,000 teachers of 37 public universities have enforced the strike and, as a result, no classes and exams are taking place on the campuses. If their demands are not met, the teachers will continue their strike after the Eid ul-Azha holidays. It will not only severely hamper the academic activities, but it may also become impossible to organise entrance exams in the different universities for this. Clearly the admission of thousands of students who have passed their HSC exams is at stake. The university teachers’ strike got momentum after certain controversial remarks made against them by the Finance Minister AMA Muhith who alleged that university teachers
indulge in corruption. But the teachers retorted that practice of corruption is highest in the ministry run by the finance minister himself. The government has reformed the cabinet committee to review the recently approved Eighth National Pay Scale for public university teachers, with Finance Minister AMA Muhith as its
convener. The committee also plans to sit with the teachers to go over their complaints in order to find solutions. But the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) has rejected the reformed committee as AMA Muhith is in the committee.
Apparently neither side is prepared to give any ground to the other. The administration in recent times has shown similar intransigence about different issues. Take the recent imposition of VAT on private universities, for example. The imposition of VAT was withdrawn only after the students took to the streets and the city life came to a standstill. But the government could withdraw the VAT earlier sparing the citizens a lot of trouble. Also people sitting in responsible position should be careful about whether their statements appear ridiculous or hurt the sentiments of any groups. When one is talking about university teachers they have to be even more careful.
 We do believe that the demands of the teachers have much justification. But they also must realize that there is give-and-take in any discussion. As teachers they are well aware about the plight of their students. Session jams and other associated problems have come down a lot in the recent years. However, any prolonged strikes by the teachers can take the public universities to the bad old days. And that is something no sane person would like to see.