The stalemate at public universities continued for the 4th consecutive day on Thursday due noncooperation by the teachers and employees of those educational institutions through the indefinite strike.
The teachers and employees of 35 public universities continued the non-cooperation through work abstention programme halting all the academic and official activities starring from Last Monday.
In such circumstances, students have been facing untold sufferings due to non-cooperation from the teachers and employees.
The students are not being able to continue library work or to solve their official and administrative
complicacies.
Students at different public universities have expressed concerns about the potential for a session jam resulting from the ongoing indefinite work abstention programme by public university teachers over the withdrawal of the Prottoy pension scheme.
Teachers and employees have been continuing the programme under the banner of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association demanding their exclusion from Universal Pension Scheme (UPS).
As part of the movement, the federation called for a boycott of classes, examinations and administrative work a day before the start of the implementation of ‘Prattay’, a new pension scheme introduced by the National Pension Authority.
The federation announced the programme to press home their demand at a press conference held at the main gate of Arts Faculty of Dhaka University on June 30.
Besides, the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) issued a notice on Sunday, addressing the teachers of the university.
Classes and exams including regular, evening programmes, professional programmes, online and offline classes and the administrative activities remained suspended at all public universities, including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Jagannath Univeristy, Jahangirnagar University and Khulna University.
Chairman offices, hall provost offices, research centres, institutes, central library, dean offices, computer labs and seminars also remain shut.
Students fear return of session jam
Meanwhile, students at different public universities have expressed concerns about the potential for a session jam resulting from the ongoing indefinite work abstention programme by public university teachers over the withdrawal of the Prottoy pension scheme.
One of the students of the University of Dhaka, wishing not to be named, said, "Many exams that were scheduled have been suspended due to the protest. There is a strong likelihood of session jam reoccurring. In the recent past, we had to face significant session jams due to Covid-19."
Another DU student expressed frustration over the lack of directives regarding when the classes will resume.
"All activities have come to a halt, including the university canteen," he said, hoping the crisis will be resolved soon.
With the demand for the withdrawal of the Prottoy pension scheme, teachers at public universities, including Dhaka University, started an indefinite strike on 1 July, suspending all academic activities.
The university teachers announced that they will continue their indefinite strike and will not return to classes until their demands are met. A total of 35 public universities across the country are united in opposing this scheme.
About the missed classes and session jam of public universities, Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, secretary general of the teachers' association, said, "We are going to take special classes to compensate for the gaps in the studies of students."
Professor Motahar Hossain, president of the Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association, said, "We are continuing this movement for the future well-being of our students. If the few benefits we have are revoked, talented students will no longer enter this profession. The nation will be doomed if talented individuals do not wish to pursue teaching as a prefession."
