Academic and administrative activities at all public universities in Bangladesh halted as teachers and employees commenced an indefinite strike on Monday, demanding exclusion from the "discriminatory" Prottoy pension scheme.

The strike, organized by the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association, was announced at a press conference on Sunday at Dhaka University.

The Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) also issued a notice to university teachers on Sunday.

The strike affected classes, exams, and administrative activities at universities including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, and Khulna University.

Offices, research centers, libraries, and labs remained shut.

Jagannath University Teachers Association General Secretary Dr. Shaikh Masrick Hasan confirmed the complete work abstention due to unmet demands.

DU officers and employees, under the banner Officers-Employees Oikya Parishad, called a strike demanding the cancellation of the "discriminatory" Universal Pension Scheme notification.

Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said his ministry is monitoring the strike and will take necessary measures in due course.

The Universal Pension Scheme began on August 17, 2023, with four schemes: Probashi, Progoti, Surokkha, and Somota. The Prottoy scheme was later introduced for officers and employees of autonomous and state-owned organizations.