FBUTA calls off movement

With the government meeting a majority of their demands, the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA) yesterday called off their movement over the 8th national pay scale.

FBUTA Secretary General ASM Maksud Kamal made the announcement at a press briefing after holding a general meeting with representatives of several public universities at Dhaka University Teacher's Club at noon.

On March 24, a cabinet committee on salary discrepancies decided that public university professors will get promotions to grades 2 and 1 without selection grade. Fifty percent of professors in grade 3, having served at least four years and published two articles in any recognised journal, will be promoted to grade 2, said meeting sources. After completing 20 years in service, including two years in grade 2, a professor would be eligible to get promoted to grade 1. However, a maximum of 25 percent of professors in grade 2 will be promoted.

FBUTA President Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed thanked the committee and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "We have fought for honour and honour has been re-established," he said.

He, however, urged the committee to consider other demands including promotion to super grade giving distinguished professors the status of a senior secretary. The FBUTA since January 19 has been intermittently suspending their movement, which began on May 2015, on getting the prime minister's assurance.