Starting July 1, 2024, teachers at public universities across Bangladesh, such as Dhaka University, have suspended all instructional and administrative activities indefinitely in protest in opposition to the newly introduced “Prottoy” everyday pension scheme. This suspension has resulted inside the cancellation of all lessons and checks on campus.
Classrooms inside the English department remained locked and empty, a scene echoed throughout different departments. Dr. Akhtarul Islam, president of the Bangladesh University Teachers Samity Federation, emphasised that the protest might maintain until the authorities withdraws the brand new pension scheme.
At Dhaka University, while some administrative activities that don’t contain teachers continued, most classrooms and faculty buildings remained closed. For instance, the geography branch became almost abandoned, with just a few administrative offices open. “Some of the executive places of work are open. But all lecture rooms are locked,” noted Fariha, a geography scholar.
Nizam Haq Bhuiyan, wellknown secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), announced a -day protest software starting at midday in the front of the Faculty of Arts. The protest coincides with Dhaka University’s 104th founding anniversary, with students visible attending the anniversary application at TSC in spite of the rain.
The controversy commenced on March thirteen, while the authorities added the Prottoy scheme, set to begin on July 1, 2024. The scheme applies to new employees becoming a member of public universities and different specific organizations from this date onwards. Existing employees will preserve to receive their preceding pension advantages. The Prottoy scheme additionally extends to personnel of self sufficient, state-owned, and other statutory agencies.
Despite the National Pension Authority’s readiness to implement the scheme, public university teachers have been vocal in their competition, pledging to maintain their protest until the scheme is revoked.