'Form permanent pay commission'

They also demanded formation of a permanent pay and service commission, payment of dearness allowance by 30 per cent and continuation of recruitments in vacant posts.

Council leaders placed their demands at a press conference in the city yesterday.

Reading out a written statement, the Council General Secretary Salahuddin Selim said "These are no longer new demands rather recognised by the prime minister four years ago."

The leaders also demanded upgrade of diploma nurses, BTTB, Roads and Highways employees to a second-class status including technical status of health assistants.

Department of Nursing should be declared as directorate, they demanded.

Addressing the conference, Council President Abdul Mannan alleged that Abul Kalam Haolader, deputy secretary and Abdur Rab Haolader, joint secretary of the Ministry of Establishment are not carrying out their due responsibilities to make the contingency employees in development sector permanent even after the government order.

The leaders said they would go ahead with their fresh programmes in case their demands are not met by May 7.

They will hold rallies and submit memorandums to the deputy commissioners across the country on May 8 and stage demonstration at the upazila levels on May 9 and will eventually organise a grand rally in the capital on May 24.

Acting President Moazzem Hossain, Additional General Secretaries Shadat Hossain Shahid, MA Hannan, SM Ali Sheikh, Joint Secretaries MA Sattar, Selim Bhuiyan and other leaders of the Council were also present at the briefing.