Secretariat staff observe 1-hr work abstention

Secretariat officials and employees have observed a one-hour work abstention today (29 May), demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

The protesting officials observed the work abstention from 10am to 11am at the Secretariat, as well as at divisional commissioners' offices, deputy commissioners' offices, and other field-level government offices across the country as part of the pre-announced programme.

Badiul Kabir, co-chairman of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum, the platform leading the protest, confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.

"This protest will continue till our demand is met," he also said.

Earlier yesterday (29 May), the forum announced that from today, the protesters will observe a one-hour work abstention daily till their demands are fulfilled.

Forum leaders warned that if the ordinance is not withdrawn, new programmes will be announced after 31 May.

Terming the ordinance an "illegal black law," Badiul yesterday said, "We have received a green signal regarding its full withdrawal. We hope the issue will be resolved satisfactorily through dialogue."

The protests began on 24 May after the interim government's Advisory Council approved the ordinance on 23 May. However, amid the protest, the ordinance was officially issued on 25 May.

Meanwhile, amid the protest, the government yesterday decided to ban visitors from entering the Bangladesh Secretariat on Mondays and Thursdays each week for an indefinite period, UNB reported, citing the Ministry of Home Affairs sources.

Visitors were previously restricted from entering the Secretariat only on Mondays.

A formal notification in this regard is expected to be issued by the Public Security Division in this regard today.