Defying DMP ban, July Mancha stages sit-in protest in front of Secretariat

Despite a ban by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on gatherings around the Secretariat, a platform named July Mancha is staging a sit-in directly opposite Gate No 1 of the country's administrative hub.

Some officials said the protesters, who positioned themselves at the main gate of the Osmani Memorial Auditorium this morning (27 May), used two microphones to chant slogans, causing significant noise that disrupted the work environment inside the Secretariat.

Authorities lodged a complaint with the police regarding the disruption.

In response, around 11am, DMP Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Masud Alam arrived at the scene with a team and urged the demonstrators to disperse, citing the DMP's prior order prohibiting any form of assembly in the area.

However, July Mancha Convener Ariful Ilam Talukder refused to move. 

Speaking into a microphone and addressing the Home Affairs Adviser, he said, "Honourable home affairs adviser, you have sent a police representative. We are not creating chaos here. We are here to ensure that the collaborators of fascism within the bureaucracy are held accountable.

"If you come and assure us that the officials who are disrupting order will be arrested today, then we will leave."

Afterwards, DC Masud Alam left the scene with his team, and protesters from July Mancha continued their demonstration, this time chanting slogans without microphones.

Secretariat employees have been protesting against the public service ordinance and are demanding that the law, which allows easier dismissal of employees for misconduct, be repealed.

The government published the ordinance in a gazette on Sunday, 25 May, through the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. It was approved earlier on 22 May in a meeting of the interim cabinet's advisory council. Secretariat staff began protesting the following day and held rallies on 24 May.

The ordinance amends the Government Service Act 2018 by introducing a provision that lists activities considered "misconduct". The ordinance allows dismissal of public servants for "administrative disruptions" within 14 days and without departmental proceedings.

Earlier, on 10 May, DMP issued a public notice prohibiting all forms of rallies, gatherings, processions, and demonstrations in and around the Bangladesh Secretariat, the chief adviser's official residence Jamuna, and the surrounding areas.

In light of the ongoing protest at the Secretariat, DMP issued a press release last night (26 May) reminding everyone that the restriction was imposed to maintain law and order and all concerned to strictly adhere to the directive.