Kazee Jubayer Islam Sohan, Patuakhali :: A protest march and human chain were held at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) demanding the withdrawal of the controversial statement made by the Energy Adviser and the immediate publication of a discrimination-free Ninth Pay Scale gazette. The program was organized by the Nationalist Employees and Officers Forum of PSTU.
The protest march began at 11:00 am on Wednesday in front of the administrative building and proceeded through various campus roads before concluding with a human chain in front of the Muktobangla monument.
Speakers at the human chain included Assistant Registrar of the Establishment Section Riaz Kanchan Shahid, Nationalist Employees Forum leaders Mezbah Uddin Khan Jasim, Mahbubur Rahman, and Mosharraf Hossain Alamgir Alam, among others.
The speakers stated that government employees have been deprived of a fair pay scale for the past 11 years and are currently facing severe financial hardship due to the continuous rise in commodity prices. Despite the government having the final report of the Ninth Pay Commission and budgetary provisions already in place, the publication of the gazette is being unnecessarily delayed.
They further claimed that the recent statement by the Energy Adviser has aggravated the situation. The employee leaders demanded the immediate withdrawal of the statement and the publication of the Ninth Pay Scale gazette, effective from January 1. They also reiterated that the movement would continue until their demands are fulfilled.
