Secretariat officials threaten to continue protest until draft ordinance enabling easy dismissal cancelled

Highlights:

• Secretariat officials protesting for second day over draft ordinance
• The protest inside the administration hub began around 9:30am today
• The ordinance allows public administration ministry to directly dismiss officials for misconduct
• Calling it repressive, protesters demanding the ordinance's withdrawal
• Threaten to continue movement until the ordinance is cancelled

Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Council have threatened to continue their protests until the draft of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which enables easy dismissal of officials, is not cancelled. 

They also warned that if the ordinance is not withdrawn, they will implement strict programmes, including paralysing the Secretariat in the coming days.

The officials started a protest inside the Secretariat earlier this morning (25 May) for the second consecutive day, opposing the draft.

The proposed draft would allow the public administration ministry to directly dismiss civil servants for negligence or misconduct, bypassing lengthy departmental proceedings.

It was approved in principle last Thursday (23 May) during a meeting of the Advisory Council.

The protesting Secretariat officials have demanded the withdrawal of the ordinance, describing it as a "repressive and black law".

They started gathering in front of Building 6 at the Secretariat around 9:30am this morning.

By 10am, most of the officers and employees had left their offices to join the protest march.

The demonstrators, led by Md Nurul Islam, president of a faction of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Council, marched through various sections of the Secretariat, chanting slogans. General Secretary Md Mujahidul Islam was also present.

Later, the protestors moved to the main gate of the Secretariat, where they held a protest rally.

By 11:30am, entry and exit of vehicles through the gate were completely blocked, hampering normal operations.

During the procession, the officers and employees chanted slogans such as "Secretariat employees, unite and fight," "we don't accept illegal black laws," "our demands, our demands, must be met, must be met."

The protesting officials say the draft ordinance includes provisions for dismissal from service without any opportunity for defence for disrupting discipline, obstructing duty performance, being absent from work without leave, and inciting failure to perform duties.

In response, the government has assigned four advisers to review the draft further.