Secretariat staff vow to continue protests until service ordinance scrapped
Protesters expect resolution before Eid, warning of tougher actions if demands unmet
Highlights:
- Officials to continue protests tomorrow against amendments to Public Service Act
- Amendments will allow public administration ministry to directly dismiss officials for misconduct
- Protesters urge govt officials across the country to hold demonstrations tomorrow
- Calling it repressive, protesters are demanding the ordinance's withdrawal
- They have threatened to continue movement until the ordinance is cancelled
Secretariat employees continued their protest today against the public service ordinance, vowing to resist until the law, which allows easier dismissal of employees for misconduct, is repealed.
Protesters said fresh demonstrations will be held inside the Secretariat tomorrow, and called upon government employees across the country to join the movement.
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To intensify the protest, a new coalition – Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum – was formed today, comprising all associations of Secretariat staff.
At around 2:30pm, leaders of the Forum announced the next phase of action in front of the new building housing the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration.
Md Badiul Kabir, co-chair of the Forum and a faction president of the Secretariat Officers-Employees Coordinated Council, told TBS that they would not end the protests until the ordinance is repealed.
"This is a black law," he said. "All staff will gather at the Secretariat's Badamtala area at 10am on Tuesday and join the demonstration. Employees from all ministries and divisions will march in."
Another co-chair of the forum, Md Nurul Islam, said the ordinance applies not only to Secretariat staff but to all government employees, which is why the movement will spread nationwide.
The government published the ordinance in a gazette on Sunday, 25 May, through the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. It was approved earlier on 22 May in a meeting of the interim cabinet's advisory council. Secretariat staff began protesting the following day and held rallies on 24 May.
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.
Staff call protests 'unprecedented'
Senior officials in the Secretariat described the scale of protest as unprecedented. One official from the agriculture ministry said he had not seen such demonstrations in his 22 years of service.
Staff marched and rallied for three consecutive days – Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – attempting to meet with advisers and secretaries to voice their opposition.
On Sunday, they tried to meet Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman, but he was not in office. Similarly, the protesters attempted to meet Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, but couldn't as he was not present.
While the protest is being led by non-cadre employees, several sources alleged that cadre officers are tacitly supporting it. Non-cadre staff from the offices of additional and joint secretaries have participated, with some senior officers even encouraging them.
One protest leader said they expect a resolution before Eid-ul-Azha, warning of tougher actions if demands are not met.
Today's protest
From 11:15am today, A large number of employees from various ministries gathered at Badamtala beside Building 6.
They later attempted to approach the offices of the Cabinet Secretary and Public Administration Secretary but were blocked by police. Protesters returned and chanted slogans demanding the resignation of the public administration Secretary.
Demonstrators then held a rally in front of the Secretariat's new building, where several gave speeches.
One speaker said many secretaries had summoned protesting employees and issued threats. "If anyone threatens a staff member now, we will respond in kind," he warned.
Another directly accused Senior Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman of masterminding the ordinance. "You must withdraw this by 4pm today," he said, addressing Rahman. "You may have misled the advisory council, but you cannot mislead us."
Later in the afternoon, protesters closed the main Secretariat gate for around 30 minutes. Security personnel shut other gates as a precaution. At around 2:30pm, employees concluded today's programme and announced further demonstrations for tomorrow.
