A section of Dhaka University teachers is observing a two-hour work abstention today demanding reinstatement of the previous pension facilities instead of the newly introduced universal pension scheme.

From now on, those who will be appointed as teachers from July 1 will get pension benefits under the government-announced pension scheme.

The teachers claim that if the new pension scheme is implemented, meritorious students will be reluctant to come to the teaching profession.

A per their previous announcement, the teachers started their protest from 10:00am today and they will not take any class till 12:00pm.

However, the scheduled exams are being held as per routine, said a press release.

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Universal Pension Scheme: All you need to know

"We conducted a peaceful movement earlier and we gave an ultimatum to meet our demand. Now we are boycotting classes for two hours as our demand is not met by May 28," said Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA).

On Sunday, a human chain was formed at the base of Aparajeya Bangla on the campus regarding the issue. From the human chain DU teachers announced the programme.

The finance ministry, in a notification on March 13, announced that all officers and employees, joining the service of autonomous, self-governing, nationalised, statutory, or similar organisations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be included in the universal pension scheme.

The government rolled out the much-anticipated universal pension scheme in August, 2023 with an aim to bring all citizens aged above 18 under the coverage.