SC clears way for 19 ex-BUET teachers' retirement benefits

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for 19 retired teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) including its three former vice chancellors(VCs) to get their relevant retirement benefits as per the 2015 national pay scale.

The apex court affirmed its earlier order that upheld the High Court verdict directing the authorities concerned to give the post retirement leave (PRL) and pension facilities to 19 former BUET teachers, who retired at different times, in 30 days after receiving its (HC) order.

According to the HC verdict, seven former BUET teachers including two former VCs Prof Md Manwarul Islam and Prof Saheda Rahman will get pension facilities and 11 others including its former VC Dr Md Majharul Haque will get PRL and pension benefits as per the 2015 national pay scale.

Today, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order through dismissing two separate petitions filed by BUET and University Grant Commission (UGC) seeking review of its earlier order that upheld the HC verdict.

The apex court on August 8 last year, upheld the HC verdict through dismissing two separate leave to appeal petitions filed by BUET and UGC challenging the HC verdict.

Earlier on February 4 last year, the HC delivered the verdict directing the authorities to give the PRL and pension facilities to 19 former teachers of BUET in 30 days.

The HC gave the verdict following three separate writ petitions filed by the 19 retired BUET teachers saying that they had been deprived of the retirement benefits.

UGC’s lawyer Advocate AF Hasan Ariff told The Daily Star that the former BUET teachers will get their retirement benefits following the SC order.

It will be known when they will be given the benefits after the SC releases its full order, he said, adding that the former BUET teachers were given their retirement benefits as there was a dispute whether they will be given the benefits as per the 2015 national time scale.

Barrister Fida M Kamal, Advocate Tabarok Hossain and Barrister Urmee Rahman appeared for the teachers.