Univ teachers' grade to rise up to senior secy's

The government may include a new criterion in the upcoming pay scale such that university teachers will see their grade rise up to the level of senior secretary in public administration.

Besides, a new system will be introduced that will automatically upgrade public servants' grades after a certain period.

For instance, if an individual remains in the same grade for 10 years straight, on the 11th year he/she will receive salary as per the next grade.

After that, he/she stays in the same post for six years, he will again be upgraded to the next grade.

The developments came at a meeting yesterday of the cabinet committee on salary discrepancy, chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

After the meeting, Muhith told reporters that the government staff of all cadres will be given more facilities and none of their existing benefits will be cut back.

He said that he had a discussion with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the meeting, during which she instructed him not to curtail anyone's current benefits.

Rather, efforts should be made to enhance their benefits, Muhith said quoting Hasina.

Under the new pay scale, the university teachers will get grade four salaries, said an official who attended the meeting.

A criterion will be set as per which a certain percentage will get promotions to grade three level and up to the position of senior secretary, which is what the university teachers have demanded.

Under the new pay scale that has been approved by the cabinet, public servants will see their salaries rise on a 5 percent incremental basis every year.

The criteria of time scale and selection grade under the existing pay scale were dropped.

The suggestions made in yesterday's meeting will be added to the pay scale; the finance ministry will prepare the draft criteria.

Then after approval by the highest level of the government, an order regarding the new pay scale may be issued.

The finance minister said they will bring together the directives in the next one week and send the draft notification to the law ministry for vetting.

After that, approvals from the prime minister and the cabinet will be required.

The University Teachers' Association and the BCS Teachers' Association raised objection after the new pay scale was passed in the cabinet.

“All present at the meeting asked for positive solution to the complaints raised,” Muhith said, adding that seven ministers and five secretaries attended the discussion held at his secretariat office.

He said scope will be provided such that staff in all cadres can reach grade one.

The university and BCS teachers feel that after the new pay scale come into effect many of their existing facilities will be curtailed, Muhith said.

“It is not correct,” he said, citing the suggestion of automatic grade change as a case in point.

“That is the best way to create opportunity for all.”

Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association yesterday said if the authorities tried to solve the issue of removing discrepancy in their salaries and status through jugglery of words or in a fragmented way, it will not be accepted.

Since a cabinet committee was holding a meeting on the issue of their demands, the association has decided to suspend their agitation programme until November 21, it said in the statement.

If their demands are not met by this deadline, it will announce a non-stop programme from November 22.