Teachers of at least 40 public universities have been abstaining from all academic and administrative duties since July 1 to realise their demand of withdrawal of the Universal Pension Scheme 'Prottoy', calling it as illogical and discriminatory.
They resolved to continue their movement until government issues circular accepting their demands.
On July 29, leaders of Federation of Bangladeshi University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) at a meeting with Education Minister apparently reached a decision to exempt teachers from the Prottoy Scheme.
Although the teachers received green signal about their exemption from the contentious Scheme, they said that they will continue work-stoppage until the government issues a notification in this regard.
"The meeting with the Education Minister went well. We hope the decision to exclude teachers from the Prottoy Scheme will be taken soon," FBUTA President Prof Md Akhtarul Islam told the Daily Observer on Wednesday.
Prof Akhtar, however, said FBUTA did not withdraw or postpone the protests.
Prof Akhtar said the FBUTA could not hold a meeting to discuss their next move, citing countrywide violence centring the ongoing student movement as the reason.
FBUTA General Secretary and also Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Prof Md Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan said, "We will continue work-stoppage until the government exempts us from the Prottoy Scheme by issuing a notification."
Prime Minister's Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and former Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid attended the meeting with teachers.
Dr Kamal told reporters, "The teachers presented their demands, and we discussed them. We will consult with the Finance Division and announce the decision later. However, we are positive about addressing the teachers' demands."
Previously, a meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister and also Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader did not yield any solution, prompting the continuation of the movement against the Prottoy Scheme.
