The teachers and staff of 35 universities, including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University and Jagannath University continued their protests, demanding withdrawal of Prottoy Scheme introduced by Finance Ministry describing the pension scheme as "discriminatory".
Teachers and employees of Dhaka University (DU) on Tuesday continued their work abstention for the second consecutive day day, demanding withdrawal of the gazette notification on the pension scheme, officially called Prottoy Scheme.
As a result, classes, examinations and official activities remain suspended, paralysing the university.
As part of the comprehensive work abstention, teachers staged a sit-in protest in front of the main gate of the Arts Building in the afternoon, where they delivered speeches.
The Dhaka University Officers-Employees Unity Council also observed an all-out work abstention on Tuesday on the same demands. They held a march on the campus in the morning, followed by a protest rally in front of the Registrar Building. The protests were prompted by lack of governments response to withdraw the "Prottoy Scheme".
The protesters are demanding rolling back Prottoy Scheme, inclusion of university teachers in the super grade and introduction of an exclusive pay structure for university teachers. At the sit-in protest at the gate of Arts Faculty, Dhaka University Teachers Association General Secretary Zeenat Huda said, "The teachers of 35 universities rejected Prottoy Scheme. Our movement for the protection of the next generation."
Lutfar Rahman, the convener of pro-BNP teachers forum Shada Dal said "This movement is for our future generations.
Teachers may have different ideologies but we are united on the issue of Prottoy Scheme. This is a movement for our survival, and we shall win."
Nizamul Hoque Buiyan, President of the Teachers Association and Secretary General of the Federation of University Teachers Associations said: "This is a simultaneous movement or teachers and officers of 35 public universities demanding withdrawal of the Prottoy Scheme. Our movement will continue until our demands are met. We want an announcement from the Prime Minister addressing our concerns. The academic loss to students due to the ongoing work stoppage will be compensated by taking special classes."
The university library is also closed.
The Officers-Employees Unity Council held a protest on campus in the morning, followed by a rally in front of the Registrar Building. At noon, a group of officers and library employees held a demonstration in front of the librarys main gate.
