Govt sits with Secretariat employees

The government sat in a meeting with the leaders of various organisations of the officers and employees at the Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon, May 27, amid their protests demanding the immediate repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

The meeting began at about 2:45pm at the Ministry of Land, with Land Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed in the chair. Five other seceretaries also attended the meeting.

Earlier this morning, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid held an urgent meeting with several secretaries amid the protests and the meeting decided to form a committee to review the ordinance.

From that meeting, land secretary was assigned to talk to the employee leaders.

The government employees at the Secretariat continued their protests for the fourth straight day today, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025, bringing administrative activities at the Secretariat.

The protesters, who are calling the ordinance an ‘unlawful black law,’ continue to chant slogans rejecting its legitimacy.

They urged co-workers who have not yet joined the movement to take part in the demonstration.

The protestors marched with slogans such as ‘The fire has been lit in our blood,’ ‘Abolish the unlawful black law,’ ‘Employees reject this illegal law,’ ‘We will not accept it,’ ‘Unite 18 lakh workers,’ and ‘No compromise, only struggle.’

On Monday, the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry restricted all types of visitor entry to the Secretariat for Tuesday.

Besides, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) slapped a restriction on rallies and gatherings in the Secretariat and adjacent areas. 

The ordinance issued by the President on Sunday evening allows the government to dismiss employees for four types of disciplinary breaches through a show-cause notice without initiating formal departmental proceedings.

Following the approval of the draft law by the Council of Advisers on May 22, Secretariat employees began staging protests, calling the law unjust and unconstitutional.

On Sunday, all employee organisations at the Secretariat vowed to continue their movement until the law is withdrawn.

UNB contributed to this report.