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Published : 17 Jun 2025, 01:23 AM
A cabinet-formed committee has reviewed the controversial Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 after days of protests from Secretariat officials and staff.
The review meeting was held at the law ministry on Monday, lasting about an hour.
Afterward, committee member and Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan told bdnews24.com: “We had a detailed discussion.
“Now we plan to hold another round of talks with staff representatives before deciding on next steps.”
Issued late on May 25, the ordinance added a new clause--37Ka--allowing action against public servants following two consecutive seven-day notices, even without a formal investigation.
Protesters call it a “repressive black law”.
The Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum, which has led the protests, held another rally on Monday and announced a large-scale gathering for Tuesday.
They are demanding a complete repeal of the ordinance, warning of wider demonstrations in government offices if it is not scrapped.
The Advisory Council had cleared the amendment on May 22, prompting daylong protests on May 24.
Despite opposition, the ordinance was signed by the president and issued the following night.
In response to the unrest, the interim government formed a review committee on Jun 4, led by Law Advisor Asif Nazrul.
Other members include Fouzul, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, with secretaries from the land, housing, and statistics ministries supporting the process.
Amid the protests on Monday, Nazrul has said government employees may become “victims of harassment” through this ordinance, noting that there is “scope for reconsideration of some parts”.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association met Public Administration Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman to voice concerns.
He told bdnews24.com the meeting focused on ways to preserve administrative efficiency under the current circumstances.
