The meeting between Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and the leaders of university teachers, who have been protesting their inclusion in the Prottoy pension scheme, has been suspended due to “state affairs” of the minister.

Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, president of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and secretary general to the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA), confirmed the matter to the Daily Sun on Thursday.

“We are always ready for talks. We were supposed to have a meeting with Obaidul Quader and Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury to discuss our demands. But the meeting was postponed as he was busy with state affairs. Obaidul Quader will sit with us soon. However, our strike will continue until demands are met,” he said.

Executive member of DUTA Prof Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan said the teachers want to solve the ongoing crisis only through discussions with the government.

“We are waiting for that. It is a fight for the dignity of teachers,” he added.

Activities at public universities came to a standstill as teachers observed a complete work stoppage to press home their demand against the government notification on the “prottoy scheme” of the universal pension scheme for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday.