Strike starts at CU

Chittagong University Teachers' Association went on an indefinite strike yesterday demanding removal of "discriminatory provisions" from the eighth national pay scale.

As per their December 30 announcement, the teachers boycotted all the classes, examinations and administrative activities also seeking restoration of time scale and selection grade in the pay scale to uphold their status.

However, all the pre-scheduled examinations will remain out of the purview of the strike from today to January 9, said Cuta President Prof Abul Manchur, adding that inevitable administrative activities would continue.

Cuta leaders held an emergency meeting, chaired by Prof Abul Manchur, and decided to continue the strike until the demands were met.

They expressed solidarity with demands of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association (FBUTA).

They will intermit their strike on January 10 to celebrate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming Day and will continue it from January 11 in line with the decision of FBUTA, said Prof Abul Manchur.

The teachers will stage a sit-in on the CU Buddhijibi Chattar premises on Thursday.

Public university teachers have been demonstrating for months to equalise the salaries, benefits and status between professors and secretaries, and between professors in selection grade and senior secretaries.

Earlier on Saturday, FBUTA threatened to go for a complete work stoppage from January 11 if the demands are not met by that time.