Teachers of the country鈥檚 different public universities on Wednesday observed the half-day work abstention for the second consecutive day under a three-day protest demanding the cancellation of the universal pension scheme notification for them, terming it as discriminatory.
No classes were held but examinations and emergency activities were conducted as these were being exempted from this strike.
The strike that started on Tuesday is scheduled to be observed till today.
The teachers have threatened to go for complete work abstention from July 1 if the scheme is not withdrawn by June 30. On the day, they are also scheduled to observe a full-day work abstention.
Bangladesh Shikshak Samiti Federation, an umbrella platfor of the public university teachers, president Professor Md Akhtarul Islam told 抖阴精品 that no one from the government contacted them for any discussion till Wednesday night.
Until our demands will be met, we will continue the movement, he added.
抖阴精品 correspondents in different public universities and districts confirmed that the teachers observed the pre-scheduled work abstention with the demands of withdrawal of the universal pension scheme, continuation of the previous pension scheme and introduction of a separate salary structure for the teachers with professional benefits.
Earlier on March 13, the finance ministry in a notification said that all officers and employees who joined the service of all autonomous, self-governing, nationalised, statutory or similar organisations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be brought under the universal pension scheme.
Soon after the notification, the public university teachers started staging protests, and at the first half of this month they observed half-day work abstention.
Dhaka University correspondent reported that the teachers observed the half-day work abstention programme for the second day in a row between 8:00am and 1:00pm after the Eid vacation.
They also demonstrated a sit-in.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology teachers鈥� association president Professor Mizanur Rahman said that they observed the strike between 8:00am and 1:00pm for the second day.
Rajshahi correspondent reported that teachers of Rajshahi University and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology observed half-day work abstention between 11:00am to 1:00pm.
About one hundred teachers under the banner of RUET Teacher Association also held a short rally in front of the university鈥檚 administrative building between 12:00pm to 1:00pm to press home their demand.
Jahangirnagar University correspondent also reported that the JU teachers observed the strike for the second consecutive day on the campus.
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology teachers鈥� association president Professor Md Abdul Hasib said that they also observed the strike.