Announce separate pay scale now

Protesting teachers of public universities have demanded the government immediately form a commission to formulate a separate pay scale for them.

They met yesterday with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at his residence in the capital.

"We have told the minister that announcement of a commission for a separate pay scale has to come immediately. We would feel assured once the announcement is made," said Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, secretary general of FBUTA, after the meeting.

A four-member delegation of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA) led by its President Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed met the minister first time after the cabinet had approved the eighth pay scale on September 7.

The minister, who was outside the country for more than a week and returned home on Friday, invited the teachers for the one-and-a-half-hour- talks. Earlier on June 14, the teachers met the minister and submitted a memorandum.

The federation said teachers wanted a specific proposal about the talks with the cabinet committee before October 19 or, if possible, before the Eid.

"The finance minister would go abroad on September 22 and return possibly on October 19. We told the minister [Nahid] that there is no scope to wait till October 19 as the teachers will not allow us to do so," said Prof Kamal.

The teachers said they would continue with their movement and the talks simultaneously.

Prof Farid Uddin said they had informed the minister about their main demand -- formation of a separate pay structure for them.

"We have been voicing our demands time and again, but the teachers took a firm stance this time. The teachers have been downgraded frequently in order to promote one particular cadre service," he observed.

The teachers expressed the hope that Nahid would discuss the issue with his cabinet colleagues and stress the importance of their demand so there could be a solution within a short time.

"Otherwise, we have to go for a tougher stance which will not be good for anyone," he said.

If the educational institutions get destabilised, the entire country will be in turmoil and development would be disrupted, he warned.

"We requested our minister to make sure that teachers' dignity is downgraded from that in the seventh pay scale," he added.

The education minister assured the teachers that they would reach a "proper solution" to the problem soon.

He said the government had formed a cabinet committee as it put due importance on the teachers' demands.

"It is an important committee formed with senior ministers. They will review the demands," Nahid said, adding, the prime minister was always sympathetic about teachers.

Asked about a separate pay scale for teachers, he said the committee would definitely discuss it.

He hoped the university admission tests or the classes would not be disrupted in the meantime.

Answering a question, Nahid said, "We did not sit here for a decision. We have discussed the problem and ways to solve it."

The teachers under the banner of FBUTA have been demonstrating since May 14 to press home their four-point demand including revision of the eighth national pay scale and a separate salary structure. They intensified their agitation after the government had approved the new pay scale.

COLLEGE TEACHERS' WORK STOPPAGE

Teachers of all 305 government colleges began a two-day work stoppage programme yesterday protesting against "discrimination in the new pay scale" and abolition of selection grade and time scale.

No classes or tests were held on the first day.

The college teachers, under the banner of BCS General Education Association, also held rallies on their campuses.

"The new pay scale has hiked salary but put teachers in a lower grade," said Prof IK Selim Ullah Khondaker, secretary general of BCS General Education Association.

Contacted, the education minister said he would sit with them soon.