Government officials staged demonstrations for the 11th consecutive day at the Secretariat on Tuesday, demanding the repeal of the 'Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025'.
The protesters staged a demonstration in front of the No 4 building of the Secretariat around 11 am and brought out a procession.
Later, they staged a sit-in in front of the Cabinet Division and submitted two memorandums to Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul seeking the cancellation of the ordinance.
Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum, an alliance of all staff and officers' associations, led the protest.
Forum Co-Chairman Md Nurul Islam said, "There is no indication of a dearness allowance in the national budget unveiled on Monday. Instead, this black law has been imposed on us. We will announce fresh action programme.”
He also threatened to go for a tougher movement if they don’t get a positive response by June 15, he said.
After the end of demonstration and the sit-in programme, the protesters submitted memorandums to the two advisers.
The ordinance issued on May 25 allows for the dismissal of government employees through a simple show-cause notice for four types of disciplinary violations, bypassing formal departmental proceedings.
The draft of the ordinance was approved at a meeting of the Advisory The secretariat staff associations have been jointly protesting the ordinance since May 24.
The government is going to form a high-level committee to review the recently promulgated Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 due to widespread objections from government employees.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul made the announcement while speaking to reporters after receiving a memorandum from leaders of the Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum on Tuesday.
“There are concerns among government employees regarding the ordinance. The government is fully open to listening to their objections. So far I know, a high-level advisory committee will be formed. The committee will be tasked with thoroughly reviewing their objections and making appropriate recommendations,” he said.
The adviser said the decision to form the committee indicates the government’s willingness to reconsider the ordinance. “The committee will be formed today or tomorrow. A decision has been taken to constitute it at the advisory level,” Asif Nazrul said.
The Adviser said the government is approaching the matter with the highest level of humanitarian consideration. “If I am included in the committee, I will sincerely listen to their concerns and try to present them in the meeting of the advisory council,” he added.
When asked about the employees' leaders’ warning of tough programmes after Eid-ul-Azha if the ordinance is not repealed Asif Nazrul said, “That is their decision.”
Co-chairman of Secretariat Officers-Employees Unity Forum Md Badiul Kabir said, “We will meet again on June 16 after the Eid holidays. We expect a complete resolution within a short time. This repressive and black law must be repealed.
