Secretariat protests: Adviser Fouzul warns of possible misuse of Public Service Ordinance

Amid the ongoing protests by government employees crippling the Secretariat, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan today (1 June) feared that certain provisions of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 may be misused.

He made the remark after a meeting with leaders and members of the Bangladesh Secretariat Employees Unity Forum at the Secretariat.

During the meeting, the protestors submitted a memorandum and presented arguments against the ordinance.

"There are provisions in the ordinance that have the potential to be misused. I will raise the issue with the Advisory Council," the adviser said.

Highlighting the continued disruption of administrative activities, he said, "You should also consider whether it's possible to address the clauses that could be misused instead of scrapping the whole ordinance."

The adviser said they are fully aware that there are flaws in the ordinance. "I will convey your demand for the repeal of the Advisory Council."

The adviser urged the government employees to consider introducing safeguards that would make the ordinance acceptable and ensure the work environment in government offices.

Key forum leaders, including Co-Chairman Md Nurul Islam and Co-Secretary General Md Nazrul Islam, were present at the meeting.

The employees also continued their movement today like before.

The Secretariat Employees' Unity Forum, an alliance of employees from various ministries and departments, submitted memoranda to three advisers demanding the repeal of the ordinance today. 

Besides Adviser Fouzul, they submitted memoranda to Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

The other two advisers made no comments.

Employee leaders present at the energy adviser's office said this ordinance is "an unconstitutional black law." They want it repealed immediately.

Earlier at 11am, employees from various ministries and departments gathered under the  banyan tree beside Building 6 of the Secretariat and held protests before submitting the memorandum.

At that time, Nurul Islam told reporters, "Our movement will continue until the black law is repealed. Today, we have all  gathered here to submit memoranda. We will submit memoranda to three advisers. We want good news from the government before Eid. Otherwise, we will conduct stricter movements across the country after Eid  with other demands."

The protesting officials will submit memoranda to the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam.

Employees from various ministries and departments working in the secretariat have been protesting since 21 May, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.