Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow
Earlier in the day, it was decided that a 13-member committee would be formed to review the government service ordinance.
Highlights:
- Six secretaries held talks with protest leaders today
- Protestors demand full repeal of amended Public Service Act
- Secretaries to brief cabinet secy on protestors' demands tomorrow
- Protest suspended until final decision tomorrow
- Employees at Secretariat protested today for fourth day
- Security tightened at Secretariat amid protests
- Secretariat access restricted for visitors and journalists
- Employees' Unity Forum backs Secretariat protest
The government employees, who are demanding the scrapping of recent amendments to the Public Service Act that allow easier dismissal for misconduct, have suspended their protest at the Secretariat for tomorrow (28 May) and the rest of today (27 May).
The decision came after ASM Saleh Ahmed, the senior secretary of the Ministry of Land, held a meeting with protest leaders this afternoon and assured that the government would come up with a final decision on the matter following a meeting with the cabinet secretary.
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Apart from Saleh, five other secretaries attended the meeting that started at around 2:40pm today, along with representatives from the employees' organisations involved in the ongoing protest.
"The protestors are calling for a complete repeal of the act. They believe the law could be misused. We listened to their concerns. All secretaries present today will brief the Cabinet Secretary tomorrow at 10am.
"The government will then announce its decision, which will be communicated to the employees," he told reporters, following the nearly two-hour meeting.
"They have suspended their movement for the time being. They want to observe what decision the government takes next. There is no conflict among us…we all are colleagues," he added.
Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Council President Badiul Kabir confirmed that the protest programme for tomorrow had been suspended and that further announcements would be made based on the government's response.
Protest leader Mohammad Nurul Islam added, "We do not want any amendments to the law — we want it fully repealed. That message has been conveyed clearly in today's meeting. We are now waiting for the government's final decision."
Earlier in the day, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid held an emergency meeting with several senior secretaries to discuss the ongoing protests. It was during this meeting that the decision was taken to engage with the protesting employees.
Security was tightened at the Secretariat since early morning today to keep under control the demonstrations by government employees.
Members of SWAT, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed around the administrative complex, alongside increased presence of regular security forces, including the Armed Police Battalion, police, and Ansar.
However, following the meeting, BGB, RAB and other specialised law enforcement personnel have been withdrawn. Regular security forces remain at the Secretariat premises.
Yesterday (26 May), the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that visitor entry to the Secretariat would be suspended today. This morning, journalists were also barred from entering.
Today marked the fourth consecutive day of protest, which began on Saturday. Around 11am, employees gathered at Badamtala, near Building No 6, chanting slogans and urging others to join.
"This illegal black law will not be accepted," was among the slogans heard during the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Employees' Unity Forum has extended its support for the government employees' movement.
ABM Abdus Sattar, a former secretary and president of the forum, made the remarks while talking to reporters after reportedly being denied entry into the Secretariat this morning.
Sattar also said that the protest would continue until an official gazette notification was issued.
Criticising the ordinance and expressing concern about the government's approach, he said, "The law that the government has made is in no way acceptable. Even during the time of the fascist Awami League, such a law was not made."
He also alleged that individuals who had benefited during the Awami League's time in government are still holding key positions.
"It will not be possible to manage anything properly if they remain in charge. They must first be removed. Instead of doing that, the government is introducing repressive laws. This is not acceptable," he said.
In a separate development, a group named July Mancha staged a sit-in outside Gate No 1 of the Secretariat near the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Around 10 people took part, delivering speeches from a rickshaw fitted with loudspeakers. The event, titled Journey to Overthrow Fascism, included slogans such as "Fascist bureaucrats beware", "Overthrow fascism", and "Ekta Ekta Amla Dhor, Dhoira Dhoira Jaile Bhor" (Arrest every bureaucrat, throw them in jail).
Following police intervention, they refused to leave the area and continued to chant slogans without loudspeakers.
However, around 12:10pm, police invited this group of protesters inside the Secretariat. Later, they came out and continued their protest, chanting slogans.
The Public Service ordinance was published earlier on Sunday (25 May) in a gazette through the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.
It was approved earlier on 22 May in a meeting of the interim cabinet's advisory council.
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.
Under the amendment, employees can now be dismissed with only a notice for four types of offences. The demonstrators are demanding a full repeal of the law.
