Employees' Unity Forum leader claims govt will suspend ordinance, says protest will continue until that happens
The forum has declared full support for the ongoing protest by government employees
ABM Abdus Sattar, president of the Anti-Discrimination Employees' Unity Forum, has claimed that the government is planning to suspend the recent amendments to the Public Service Act but their protest will continue until an official gazette notification is issued.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists this morning (27 May), after reportedly being barred from entering the Secretariat.
"An hour and a half ago, they said they would suspend it. But we said the suspension order must be issued. Then we will withdraw our movement," said Sattar.
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"This movement is no longer confined to the Secretariat. Today, all directorates, all organisations, and field-level DC and UNO offices across the country will take to the field."
The forum has declared full support for the ongoing protest by government employees.
"Some senior officers from our organisation came here today to help keep the protest calm and prevent any unrest. We are declaring 100% solidarity with this movement," said Sattar.
He expressed anger at being prevented from entering the Secretariat.
"We can legally enter the Secretariat for official work. I am expressing great anger that I was not allowed entry by high-level government officials. I want to know what my crime is. I am not protesting. We are fellow travellers or moral supporters of the movement," he said.
Sattar also criticised the ordinance, calling it unacceptable even compared to previous administrations.
"The law that this government has made did not exist even during the time of fascist Hasina," he said.
"You also know that the Awami League and its front organisations have been banned. The list of collaborators has been published, yet they are still in top positions in the administration. Why? They have no moral right to be there. They are now conspiring to make this government fail."
He added that the original demand of the Unity Forum was to remove those described as "collaborators" of the Awami League from senior positions.
"What has started now is a movement against the black law," he said. "Under this law, any government officer or employee can be dismissed without notice. This cannot be the law of any civilised country."
In response to a question on whether the movement is harming the functioning of the state, Sattar replied, "For whom is this happening? It is happening for the government itself. Some agents have entered the government. They are misleading the head of government and making them do all these things. This situation is visible everywhere — at NBR, Nagar Bhaban, among teachers, and in Palli Bidyut offices."
