There's scope to reconsider Public Service Ordinance: Law adviser
Speaking at the Secretariat following his meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Nazrul explained that a high-level committee tasked with reviewing the ordinance held its inaugural meeting this afternoon
There is scope to reconsider the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul indicated today (16 June) in response to public servants' demand for its repeal.
Speaking at the Secretariat following his meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Nazrul explained that a high-level committee tasked with reviewing the ordinance held its inaugural meeting this afternoon.
"Our several advisers, including Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, have said there is definitely room to reconsider the current public service law. I was abroad and not directly involved in its formulation. After reviewing it later, I personally believe it certainly has a scope for reconsideration," he said.
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In response to the recent protests by government employees demanding the withdrawal of the ordinance, the government formed the review committee headed by the law adviser.
Public servants resumed their demonstrations at the Secretariat on Monday, reiterating their call for the ordinance's repeal.
"One thing I can assure you — the government did not enact this ordinance with any ill intention. Still, certain provisions within a law, even if made in good faith, may appear to those affected as sources of discomfort or harassment. We acknowledge that this possibility exists within this law. It primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Administration Ministry — we only handled the gazette notification," he said.
"I have with me the written demands submitted by the protesting employees. We will decide how to consider and address those. Once finalised, we will submit a report to the Advisory Council as soon as possible. Our role is to make recommendations, not decisions," said the adviser.
He also urged government employees to refrain from further agitation until the committee completes its review and submits its report.
Government employees resumed their protest at the Secretariat on Monday, demanding the immediate repeal of the recently promulgated Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
After the end of a 10-day Eid holiday, employees from various departments gathered at the Secretariat premises around 10:30 am and staged demonstrations.
They alleged that although a review committee led by the Law Adviser was formed to examine the ordinance, it has not engaged in any dialogue with the protesting organisations.
The government issued the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 on May 25, introducing a provision that allows termination of public servants without departmental proceedings in cases of four specific disciplinary breaches—requiring only a show-cause notice.
The draft of the ordinance was initially approved at the Advisory Council meeting on May 22.
Since May 24, all unions representing government officers and staff at the Secretariat have been jointly staging demonstrations demanding withdrawal of what they term a "repressive and undemocratic ordinance."
