BJEA calls half-day strike on June 22-23

Staff Reporter :

The Bangladesh Judicial Employees Association (BJEA) has declared a half-day work stoppage at all subordinate courts and tribunals on June 22 and 23 across the country, demanding inclusion of their wages under the judicial pay scale along with bringing proper reforms in the service.

The BJEA announced the decision on Friday at a press conference at Star Hotel and Restaurant in the city.

In a statement issued after the conference, BJEA President Md. Rezoan Khandaker and General Secretary Kazi Md. Salauddin highlighted the long-standing grievances of the judicial service employees for being excluded from the judicial pay structure since the separation of the judiciary from the executive on November 1, 2007.

According to the association, although judges receive a distinct pay scale with six exclusive grades and numerous allowances including judicial allowance, furniture maintenance, and special duty allowances during December recess and criminal court duties , the judicial support staff continue to receive lower pay based on the general public administration structure.
They are denied equivalent benefits despite working in the same courts.

The July 2024 mass uprising, which brought an interim government with a commitment to equity, rekindled hope among subordinate court employees. Following this, BJEA leaders presented their demands to the Judicial Reform Commission, which acknowledged their legitimacy.
However, the commission’s final recommendations did not address the issue.

As part of their ongoing movement, the BJEA previously held a nationwide two-hour work stoppage on May 5 and presented a two-point charter of demands, including establishing a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court for the judiciary.

The organization also demanded inclusion of all subordinate court and tribunal staff under grades 7 to 12 of the judicial pay scale, eliminating outdated block posts, and introducing a modernised promotion and recruitment structure based on merit and seniority.

Despite these steps, the authorities are yet to take any effective measures in this regard, prompting the association to intensify their agitation.