DU staff press six-point demand, threaten daily protests

Officials and employees of Dhaka University placed a six-point demand today, including the promotion of 187 assistant registrars and equivalent officials to deputy registrar and equivalent posts, alongside raising the retirement age for employees.

The written demands were submitted after a morning gathering in front of the university’s registrar office under the banner of the Employees’ Unity Council, a platform comprising four associations of university officials and staff.

“If the registrar fails to take the necessary steps to implement the demands, we will hold protest rallies every day from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm until May 3. If the authorities do not sincerely move to meet the demands within the stipulated time, they will be held responsible for any situation that may arise,” said the agitators.

Among the key demands is the promotion of 187 officials from assistant registrar or equivalent posts to deputy registrar or equivalent posts by May 15. They said the move had already been approved by the university syndicate.

They also demanded that applications for promotions in 2025 be invited immediately for members of the Officers’ Association, Third-Class Employees’ Association, Technical Employees’ Association, and Fourth-Class Employees’ Union.

Another major demand was raising the retirement age limit for employees at all levels to 62.

Other demands included retaining the benefits currently enjoyed under the promotion policy in line with international labour law while expanding those facilities further, and revising the policy formulated on September 9, 2020 through consultation with leaders of their respective organisations.

No “black policy” formulated in the absence of representatives of employees’ organisations would be accepted by university officials and staff, they added.

They also demanded the immediate reopening of the administrative building canteen for official work purposes and the continuation of opportunities for officials and employees to pursue higher education.

Memorandums outlining their demands would be submitted to the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), pro-vice-chancellor (education), treasurer and proctor, the DU staff said.

“Today they placed their demands before the administration.” Acting Registrar Munshi Shams Uddin told The Daily Star.

He said that under the university’s existing rules, one-third of eligible officials are promoted from assistant registrar to deputy registrar.

“However, those who applied claimed they had faced various forms of discrimination in the past, and all 187 applicants sought promotion,” he said.

Shams Uddin added that the syndicate approved the decision to promote them during the tenure of former vice-chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan.

“Even the mandatory board was formed and the date for the viva examination was announced at that time,” he said, adding that the viva was delayed following the former vice-chancellor’s sudden announcement of resignation.