The government has finally turned down a proposal of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for allowing 'rest and recreation leave' facilities to the country's public university teachers and staffs, officials said.
Although the universities' regulator had earlier applied twice seeking the ministry's nod to such facilities, the ministry verbally rejected the proposal, saying that public university teachers usually enjoy more leaves than that of other government officials.
"The Ministry of Education (MoE) recently replied the commission's plea in the negative saying that it wouldn't allow the facilities to the group as they are receiving more benefits comparatively", said UGC Director (Accounts and Finance Division) Muhammed Ibrahim Kabir.
Since 1999, the university teachers, officials, and employees have been enjoying 30 days as the rest and recreation leave after an interval of every three years of their job regularisation.
"Though the government withdrew such facilities for the public universities in 2005, the university authorities had been allowing it following a verbal approval from the MoE", Mr Kabir said adding that the regulator had sent two letters to the ministry in this connection.
The issue came into spotlight as the regulator's audit team found that the universities are giving the facilities without having written document from the proper authorities.
The accounts director told the FE that following the audit team's findings, they have taken the issue with the ministry concerned and pleaded for written order in this connection.
"Unfortunately, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently the MoE gave the unwanted reply", Mr Kabir said adding that the letter also cleared its position saying that it couldn't be possible anyway to allow such leave for the community as they have already been enjoying more leaves compare to the other government officials.
During a calendar year, teachers of public universities usually enjoy holidays for almost 108 days including summer and winter vacations, but the leave does not include regular public holidays like Fridays and Saturdays while the other government officials enjoy only 24 days excepting general holidays during the same period.
However, the public universities strongly reacted to the government decision for not allowing rest and recreation leave for the community which is allowed for other government officials.
"Like other public institutions, the country's public university teachers, officials and employees are also paying the income taxes for the government exchequer", said Md Ashraf Uddin, Director of Accounts of the Dhaka University.
He noted that despite objection from the UGC audit team, the university has been providing the facilities as the university's apex body syndicate has approved it.
Protesting the government decision, Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (Buta) President Prof Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed said that the community won't accept the decision.
"We will go for tougher agitation unless the decision is changed in favour of the community people" Mr Ahmed, also president of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA), threatened.
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