Seven-college employees form human chain over four demands including job regularisation
Private employees of the seven colleges under Dhaka Central University (DCU) have formed a human chain demanding job regularisation and three other demands.
On Monday, hundreds of private employees took part in simultaneous human chains at seven campuses, including Government Titumir College, which is part of Dhaka Central University.
The programme was organised on the road in front of Titumir College in Mohakhali in the capital, under the banner of the 'Seven Colleges' Private Employees' Unity Council'.
At the human chain, the employees said there are currently 869 private and temporary employees in the seven colleges. Some of them have been working for more than 20 years. Their salaries are paid from money collected from the colleges' students.
They said that although Dhaka Central University was formed with the seven colleges, the matter of the employees' jobs remains uncertain. The number of admission seats has been reduced under the new university, so the colleges' income has also fallen. This has raised fears of a crisis in paying the employees' salaries.
The employees also said that in a memorandum submitted to the chairman of the University Grants Commission on 2 November, they demanded to be brought under Dhaka Central University by relaxing the age limit and educational qualifications for their jobs.
Their demands include bringing the employees under Dhaka Central University's own structure at the very least. No employee should be dismissed under any circumstances, they said, adding that their movement would continue until the demands are met.
They pointed out that the government has at various times nationalised educational institutions and brought the teachers concerned under the government structure as well. But there is still no assurance about the private employees' pay rise or job security.
Md Abul Khayer, general secretary of the Government Titumir College Employees' Council, spoke at the human chain.
