The government employees at the secretariat continued their protests on Sunday, demanding the cancellation of newly promulgated Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 that allows dismissal of public servants for misconduct in an easier way.
Since May 24, the government employees have been protesting at the ordinance, terming it a 鈥榬epressive鈥� and 鈥榖lack law鈥�. They, however, kept their demonstration suspended on May 28.
Following Sunday鈥檚 demonstration, the government employees submitted memorandums to three advisers of the interim government, urging for an immediate cancellation of the new ordinance.
The protest began about 11:00am in front of Building no 6 at the secretariat鈥檚 Badamtoli, where the employees staged demonstration for about 30 minutes.
After the protest, they submitted memorandums to adviser to the food and land ministries Ali Imam Majumder, adviser to the power, energy and mineral resources ministry Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, and adviser to the environment, forest and climate change ministry Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Md Nurul Islam, co-chairman of the Bangladesh Secretariat Employees鈥� Unity Forum, told reporters that the land ministry鈥檚 senior secretary had assured them of a decision after meeting with the chief adviser, who returned to the country from Japan on Saturday.
He said, 鈥榃e were told about a positive outcome by Sunday, which is why today鈥檚 [Sunday] programme was limited to only submitting memorandums.鈥�
鈥榃e are expected to meet with land ministry senior secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed after which we will announce our next course of action,鈥� he added.
On May 29, after holding a one-hour strike at the secretariat, the leaders of the employees had announced a programme to submit memorandums to five advisers Sunday and Monday (today).
As per the schedule, memorandums will also be submitted today to information and broadcasting adviser Mahfuz Alam and youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
The interim government on May 25 promulgated the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 in a gazette, introducing stricter disciplinary measures. It was approved on May 22 at a meeting of the advisory council.
The ordinance has amended the Government Service Act 2018 by introducing a provision that lists activities considered 鈥榤isconduct鈥�.
The ordinance allows dismissal of public servants for 鈥榓dministrative disruptions鈥� within 14 days and without departmental proceedings.
Under the amendment, employees can now be dismissed with only a notice for four types of offences 鈥� disrupting discipline, obstructing duties, unauthorised absence, or inciting others not to carry out their duties.
