UTAB submits memo to Pay Commission for separate higher pay scale for varsity teachers

The University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) has submitted a memorandum to the National Pay Commission demanding a separate, dignified, and higher salary structure for university teachers, along with increased research allocations.

Today, Sunday (October 26), a delegation led by UTAB President Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam met with Pay Commission Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan at the commission's office in the afternoon. They handed over a five-point charter to Chairman Khan, Member Prof Dr Md Maksudur Rahman, and Part-time Member Prof Dr Shamshul Alam Bhuiyan.

The demands include:

• Introducing a separate, prestigious higher pay scale aligned with salaries of university teachers in least developed countries.
• Providing research allowances comparable to international standards.
• Funding for annual participation in one international and one national conference/seminar for knowledge dissemination, including travel/TA-DA and other allowances.
• Incentive allowances for research publications to encourage high-quality journal papers.
• Ensuring financial and social security for long-term teaching careers, such as interest-free loans for professors to buy cars and flats.

UTAB central leaders present included Prof Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarkar, Prof Dr Abdul Karim, Prof Dr Golam Rabbani, Prof Dr SM Hafizur Rahman, Prof Dr Md Ali Jinnah, Prof Aslam Hossain, Dr Md Nuru l Amin, and Prof Sirajul Islam.