
The government employees at a protest rally on Friday iterated their demand for the immediate repeal of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 that made the dismissal process of errant public servants less complicated.
Warning of a tougher movement from Sunday if their demands were not met, two platforms—Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees Unity Forum, and Bangladesh Sarkari Karmachari Dabi Aaday Oikya Parishad (unity forum of Bangladesh government employees for pressing home demands)—organised the rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka city.
Employees from various public entities, including the secretariat, joined the protest, condemning the ordinance as a ‘black law’ and one that would disproportionately harm them.
Apart from demanding the ordinance’s revocation, the protestors also placed a seven-point demand, including the implementation of the 9th Pay Scale for public servants.
They also opposed the newly introduced 15 per cent special allowance, alleging that it would cancel the existing 5 per cent special incentive.
They also demanded the introduction of 50 per cent dearness allowance to help them cope with rising living costs.
Earlier on Thursday, the government employees at the secretariat threatened to besiege the finance ministry on Sunday, pressing for the ordinance be scrapped within the next 48 hours.
The government employees have been protesting at the ordinance since May 24, terming it a ‘repressive’ and ‘black’ law.
In response to the agitations, the government, on June 4, formed a committee with the law adviser Asif Nazrul as convener to make recommendations through discussions with the agitated parties to review the ordinance.
The advisory council of the interim government approved the draft of the ordinance on May 22 and promulgated it on May 25 in a gazette amid protests.
The Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which amended the Government Service Act, 2018, has introduced stricter disciplinary measures along with a provision that lists activities considered ‘misconduct’.
The ordinance allows dismissal of public servants for ‘administrative disruptions’ within 14 days and without departmental proceedings.
Under the amendment, employees can now be dismissed with only a notice for four types of offences—disrupting discipline, obstructing duties, unauthorised absence, or inciting others not to carry out their duties.