Secretariat employees halt protest for a day

Protesting officers and employees at the Bangladesh Secretariat have suspended their protest demanding the immediate repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

Both sides – leaders of various organisations of the protesting employees, and secretaries – shared this information in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon after a meeting between them, May 27.

Highlighting outcomes of the meeting, Senior Land Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed said, “We, a few secretaries, sat with them (protesters) and listened to them. We will present a summary of their demand to the Cabinet Division on Wednesday (May 28).”

The protesters suspended their programme for the sake of discussion, he added.

At that time, two from the protesting employees spoke and they also agreed to the suspension of the movement for a day.

Earlier this afternoon, Senior Land Secretary Saleh Ahmed sat in a meeting with the leaders of various organisations of the officers and employees at the Secretariat. Five other seceretaries also attended the meeting.

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.

SUJ/MSU