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Published : 26 May 2025, 12:13 PM
Government employees have launched a protest at the Secretariat in response to the issuance of an ordinance amending the Public Service Act.
They began marching in groups near Badamtola next to Building No. 6 around 11am on Monday to demonstrate against the ordinance enacted on Sunday with the president's approval.
Chanting slogans like “We reject this illegal black law”, the protesters demanded the cancellation of the appointments of six contract-based secretaries at the Secretariat who they alleged were involved in pushing the ordinance through.
Nurul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Coordinated Council, and Mujahidul Islam Selim, its secretary general, called for the immediate arrest of Public Administration Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman.
Another group of protesters was led by Badiul Kabir and Nizam Uddin Ahmed.
After demonstrating at Badamtola for about half an hour, employees broke into smaller processions and marched through the corridors of various Secretariat buildings.
Earlier, the Advisory Council approved the proposal to issue the amendment as an ordinance on Thursday.
In response, government employees protested and held processions at the Secretariat throughout Sunday.
Protesters say the proposed ordinance creates opportunities to punish or even dismiss government officials more easily, raising concerns over its potential misuse.
The amendment added a new Section, “37A”, to the existing law.
The new section allows for action against an officer or employee found guilty, after issuing two seven-day notices.
The ordinance allows swift termination of government employees for engaging in or inciting disobedience, disrupting discipline, obstructing duties, or being absent without valid reasons.
Other offences include persuading others to neglect their responsibilities, or preventing colleagues from attending work or performing their duties.
The punishments for these offences include demotion, grade reduction, removal from service or dismissal from employment.
However, the accused officer or employee will have the right to appeal to the president within 30 working days of receiving the notice.
