RU, July 7 (V7N)- For the seventh consecutive day, teachers at Rajshahi University (RU) have continued their total work stoppage, demanding the withdrawal of the universal pension scheme 'Pratoy' and the implementation of a separate pay scale for teachers.

The teachers carried out the strike on Sunday (July 7) from 11 AM at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Senate Building of the university.

Professor Omar Faruq Sarkar, General Secretary of the University Teachers' Association, said, "There's no point in explaining our calculations or laws to us. You issue circulars in the dead of night and then amend them. Who gave you that right? No one but the Ministry of Finance is taking responsibility for this Pratoy scheme. Are they the only ones who matter? Don't we have any experts? We need new ideas and discussions. Sit down and talk with us. University teachers want to focus on research and teaching, not take to the streets."

In the program, Professor Habibur Rahman, President of the Teachers' Association, said, "The government's universal pension scheme was a very commendable and welfare-oriented initiative. However, those responsible have made it controversial. We are not calling for the cancellation of the Pratoy scheme. The scheme has 403 categories. Since they are not protesting, we cannot take responsibility for them.

We are here to demand the withdrawal of university teachers' names from the Pratoy scheme. Some vested interests are trying to divert our protest, but they will not succeed. We will continue our strike until our demands are met."

END/RAR/SMA/