A platform of teachers and officials belonging to the BCS general education cadre went on a two-day work abstention this morning protesting a government move to provide teachers of 283 non-government colleges the same status and benefits.

“No BCS, no Cadre,” Prof IK Selim Ullah Khondaker, president of BCS General Education Association, said while talking to The Daily Star about their ongoing protest. 

No classes and examinations are being held in any government college following the protest, Prof Selim said.

Besides, the officials of National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), different education boards and Government Alia Madrasa, belonging to the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) general education cadre, are also observing the work abstention, he added.

Meanwhile, the government has already started the process to nationalise the 283 colleges.

Today’s examinations of seven colleges affiliated to University of Dhaka (DU) and the government colleges across the country were postponed due to the abstention, said the association president.

Before the colleges are nationalized, the government should make new policy for the listed colleges so that the teachers remain out of cadre status, he said.