Shawdesh Desk:

Teachers of the public universities across Bangladesh on Monday started work abstention for an indefinite period demanding cancellation of the universal pension scheme notification for them, terming it as discriminatory.

The newly introduced pension instrument is meant for newcomers of state-owned autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies.

The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association called for a boycott of classes, examinations, and administrative work a day before the start of the implementation of Prattay, a new pension instrument introduced by the National Pension Authority.

New Age correspondents from different universities reported that the strike started since Monday morning.

Dhaka University correspondent reported that since morning no classes or examinations were held on the university campus.

Classrooms and offices were seen closed and most residential students stayed at their dormitories.

Some employees were seen chanting slogans in front of the Registrar’s office protesting at the scheme.

The DU Teachers’ Association held a rally protesting the scheme on the campus.

Jahangirnagar University correspondent reported that no classes and examinations were held since Monday morning.

Some offices at the registrar’s building were seen open where different financial transactions were ongoing.

Some teachers were seen gathering to hold protest programmes on the campus.

New Age correspondent in Rajshahi reported that no exams or classes were held on Rajshahi University campus on the day.

Some offices and the teacher’s centre were seen open though.

In a press statement on Sunday, FBUTA said that their indefinite work abstention was part of the ongoing movement to press home their demands, which included the cancellation of a gazette linked to the Prattay and the introduction of an independent pay structure for university teachers.

Published on March 14, the gazette made it mandatory for all officials and employees who will join state-owned autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies from July 1, 2024 onwards, to be included in the new pension instrument.

The new pension scheme will not apply to government officials.

Rejecting the gazette, FBUTA has been observing protests and programmes for the past three months.

On Sunday the teachers observed a full-day work abstention while no classes were held but exams were held.

They observed half-day work abstention on June 25-27 while exams were out the purview of the strike.