The Federation of Bangladeshi University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) on Saturday withdrew work abstention after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina scrapped the contentious Universal Pension Scheme 'Prattoy'.
Sheikh Hasina announced cancellation of the Prottoy Scheme after a meeting with leaders of Peshajibi Shomonnoy Parishad at her official residence Ganabhaban.
A press release issued by the Finance Ministry on August 3, said that the decision of inclusion of teachers, officers and employees of universities, self-governed, autonomous, state-owned, statutory and similar organisations in the Prottoy Scheme and Universal Pension Scheme was scrapped.
"Our primary demand has been met. So we have decided to withdraw work abstention in protest against the controversial Prottoy Scheme," FBUTA President Prof Md Akhtarul Islam told the Daily Observer.
Prof Akhtar said he believed their two other demands would be met soon.
The demands include placing teachers in super grade and introduction of a separate salary structure for university teachers.
Teachers, officers and employees of at least 40 public universities abstained from all duties since July 1, to realise their demand of withdrawal of the Universal Pension Scheme 'Prottoy', calling it as illogical and discriminatory.
On July 29, FBUTA leaders at a meeting with Education Minister reached a decision to exempt teachers from the Prottoy Scheme.
Earlier, the teachers held a meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister and also Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, but it did not yield any solution.
The Finance Ministry, in a notification on March 13, announced that all officers and employees joining autonomous, self-governing, nationalised, statutory or similar organisations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be included in Prottoy Scheme under the Universal Pension Scheme.
Since the announcement by the Finance Ministry, teachers, officers and employees of public universities held protest demonstrations on campuses across the country.
