NN Online:
Employees at the Bangladesh Secretariat will stage a mass campaign on Tuesday demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025.
The announcement came on Monday following a two-hour work abstention observed from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, as part of the employees’ ongoing protest movement.
During the work stoppage, staff from various ministries and departments gathered at the Central Library on the third floor of Building-2 within the Secretariat complex.
Md Badiul Kabir, Co-chairman of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees Unity Forum, addressed the gathering, saying, “We will carry out a mass campaign inside the Secretariat tomorrow to press for the cancellation of this ordinance.”
Calling for calm among protest leaders, fellow Co-chairman Nurul Islam urged restraint in public statements. “We haven’t received any positive signal from the authorities. Former Chief Election Commissioners are being publicly humiliated with shoes around their necks. Those abusing power today should take note—everyone will face accountability in time,” he said.
The Secretariat employees began their movement on May 24, opposing the draft Public Service Ordinance, which was approved by the Advisory Council and formally promulgated by the government on May 25—despite active protests.
Under the ordinance, government employees may be dismissed without a departmental inquiry for four categories of disciplinary offences, requiring only a show-cause notice.
Ahead of the Eid holidays, employees staged demonstrations until June 3 and submitted memorandums to seven government advisers, warning of intensified protests if the ordinance was not withdrawn by June 15.
