Protests by teachers, students bring Dhaka University to it knees

A strike by teachers over pay and pension, and a quota reform movement for public sector jobs by students have brought Bangladesh’s premier public university to a standstill.

All classes, examinations, and administrative activities at Dhaka University were brought to a sudden halt from Sunday morning. The university’s central library also remained closed.

Teachers held a sit-in in front of the Faculty of Arts building from 12:00pm to 1:30pm.

The union of the staff staged a work stoppage in front of the administrative building in the morning.

Professor Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, secretary general of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association, said: “Our comprehensive strike will continue until our three demands are met. The discriminatory Prottoy Scheme must be revoked.

“University teachers should be included in the super grade, and a separate pay scale for teachers must be introduced.”

He continued, “Our demands are not being met, and there are attempts to destroy the education system. Despite promises in 2015, we did not receive the super grade due to an invisible force.”

“The Awami League’s 2008 election manifesto promised a separate pay structure for us, which we did not receive. Now, the Prottoy Scheme is being imposed on us.”

The federation’s General Secretary Professor Zeenat Huda , said, “The teaching community will not back down, the protest will continue. Our victory is certain.”

“This movement is being misinterpreted. It is not against the prime minister but solely against the Prottoy Scheme and those trying to paralyse universities with it,” she added.

Teachers across public universities in Bangladesh have been on a comprehensive strike since Jul 1, called by the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association, demanding the cancellation of the Prottoy Scheme.

Students continued their protests on Sunday, demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 notification for merit-based recruitment in government jobs.

They announced a ‘Bangla Blockade’ programme from 3:00pm, boycotting classes and exams.

As part of this programme, they plan to block major points like Shahbagh, Nilkhet, New Market, Chankharpul, Science Lab, and Motijheel, along with important points at various universities across the country.

4-POINT LIST OF DEMANDS BY STUDENTS

The abolition of the quota system in government jobs, which was announced in 2018 after intense protests, and the retention of merit-based recruitment circulars

The swift formation of a commission to eliminate “unreasonable and discriminatory” quotas in all grades of government jobs, ensuring that only marginalised groups are considered for quota as per the Constitution.

The quota facility cannot be used more than once in government job recruitment exams, and any vacant positions previously reserved under a quota should be filled on the basis of merit

Effective measures to ensure a corruption-free, impartial, and merit-based bureaucracy.

On Oct 4, 2018, in the face of a student movement, the government issued a circular cancelling the 10 percent quota for women, the 30 percent quota for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters and the 10 percent district quota for government jobs.

According to the circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, the existing quota system for direct recruitment to the posts of ninth grade (previously first class) and 10^th to 13^th grades (previously second class) was scrapped in favour of a merit-based system.

However, the circular stated that though the quota system for the first and second-class jobs was abolished, the quotas will remain in place for third and fourth-class posts.

Seven people, including Wahidul Islam – the son of a freedom fighter - filed a writ petition in the High Court in 2021 challenging the validity of that circular.

After the final hearing, the High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat declared the decision to scrap the quota system illegal. The state applied to the Appellate Division to suspend the decision.

Students have protested at Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and other places across the country over the High Court’s decision.