Talks with public univ teachers to go on: Nahid

The meeting between education minister Nurul Islam Nahid and the public university teachers over new pay scale ended on Saturday inconclusively. However, both sides have agreed to discuss the issue further.
The teachers under the banner of the Federation of Bangladesh Public University Teachers Association (FBPUTA) met with the minister at his Minto Road residence on the day.
The meeting started around 11:00 am and continued up to 12:30 pm. President of FBPUA Farid Uddin Ahmed led the teachers' delegation.   
"We want the government to form a separate pay commission for public university teachers," General Secretary of the FBPUTA ASM Maksud Kamal told the FE.
The FBPUTA started demanding a separate pay scale for them after the cabinet endorsed the 8th pay scale for government employees. After the meeting Mr Nahid told journalists that he hoped that an amicable solution to the issue would be possible.
"We have discussed all the issues related with the teachers. The government has taken the proposals that they (teachers) have placed with due importance. A committee has been formed in this connection," he said.     
Asked if the government would form separate pay scale for the teachers the minister said, "The government did not reject it. Discussion will continue. No way to belittle the dignity of the teachers".
President of FBPUTA Farid Uddin Ahmed said that their first and foremost demand to the government is to form a separate pay scale for them.
"Discussion and dialogue would go side by side to fulfil our demand," he said.
Meanwhile assistant teachers of primary schools started work abstention from Saturday for fulfilling their six-point demand that includes re-fixing their salaries. The teachers under the banner of Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers' Society has called the programme. They will observe the programme until September 21, 2015.  
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com