Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today showered praises to teachers saying that their dignity is above everything as there is no way to compare teachers with others.

"Respected teachers are the conscience of society, teachers' honour is always above everything. There's no way to compare them with others," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the Prime Minister Gold Medal Award distribution ceremony at her office.

University Grant Commission (UGC) organised the function with its chairman Prof Dr Abdul Mannan in the chair. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid also spoke on the occasion.

"My head always bows down whenever I see my teachers because we learned from them," she said mentioning the names of her two teachers -- Prof Anisuzzaman and Prof Rafiqul Islam -- who were present at the function.

"I may be the Prime Minister, but the honour of my teacher is far above me," she added.

The Prime Minister came up with the remarks at a time when the teachers of different public universities are on agitation over the new pay scale announced by the government.

Public university teachers have been on protests since the 8th National Pay Scale was announced on May 14, advocating for a four-point demand that includes the formation of a commission to initiate an independent pay scale for public university teachers.

The other demands of the public university teachers are salary and allowance parity between senior professors and senior secretaries, and between professors and secretaries; upgrading the status of teachers in the warrant of precedence; and the provision of cars and other allowances for teachers similar to provisions given to bureaucrats.