Demanding regularisation of their jobs, the muster-roll employees of Rajshahi University (RU) continued their one-hour work abstention programme for the 11th consecutive day yesterday. They also warned of a tougher movement if their demands are not met within today (Wednesday).

The employees also submitted a memorandum to RU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof M Abdus Sobhan in this regard. More than 200 RU employees have been staging a sit-in programme in front of the martyred intellectuals’ memorial from 11am to 12noon to press home their demand. Yesterday, they presented their demand from a press conference held at the same place.  They also locked the university administration building's gate on Monday. With the request of the administration, they suspended their programme on that day. But they continued their protests as they did not get any assurance from the authorities concerned till now. The employees said that around 280 employees had been serving the university on a daily basis for 20–25 years. But the varsity authorities are showing reluctance to appoint them permanently and instead have recruited new employees on a permanent basis issuing a circular.

They allege that the education ministry in 2008 had directed RU to give priority to master-roll employee in case of recruitment, but the authorities concerned recently appointed 16 employees on the campus. RU Muster-Roll Employees Oikya President Masudur Rahman said they had been urging the varsity authorities to appoint them on a permanent basis. "But they appointed new employees instead of regularising us," he alleged.

On January 26, the muster-roll employees sat in front of the VC's house. The employees called off their sit-in programme on that day after syndicate member Prof Humayun Kabir assured them of meeting their demand.