The government employees, who have been demanding the withdrawal of the new ‘Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025’ that introduced a provision for removing government employees from jobs on disciplinary ground in an easier way, suspended their protest at the secretariat for Tuesday.
The decision came after ASM Saleh Ahmed, senior secretary at the ministry of land, held a meeting with protest leaders and assured that the government would come up with a final decision on the matter following a meeting with the cabinet secretary on today.
After a two-hour meeting, senior secretary Saleh Ahmed told journalists, ‘We have listened to their concerns and all the secretaries present at the meeting will brief the cabinet secretary on Wednesday at 10:00am and the government will then announce its decision.’
‘They (protesters) have suspended their movement for the time being. They want to observe what decision the government takes next. There is no conflict among us. We all are colleagues,’ he added.
Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Forum co-chair Badiul Kabir said that the protest programme for Wednesday was suspended and that further announcements would be made based on the government’s response.
Leaders of the protesting government employees at the meeting urged the government for a complete repeal of the ordinance, saying that the law could be misused while the committee members listened to the concerns of the employees.
Earlier in the day, cabinet secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid held an emergency meeting with several senior secretaries to discuss the ongoing protests.
Amid tight security at the secretariat since early morning, the government employees gathered at Badamtala in the secretariat at about 11:00am, and started their demonstration for the fourth consecutive day.
Meanwhile, members of SWAT, Border Guard Bangladesh, and Rapid Action Battalion were deployed around the secretariat, alongside increased presence of regular security forces, including the Armed Police Battalion, police, and Ansar.
However, following the meeting, BGB, RAB and other specialised law enforcement personnel have been withdrawn but regular security forces remain at the Secretariat premises.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Employees’ Unity Forum extended its support for the government employees’ movement.
ABM Abdus Sattar, a former secretary and president of the forum, made the announcement while talking to journalists after reportedly being denied entry into the Secretariat in the morning.
Noting that individuals who had benefited during the Awami League’s time in government are still holding key positions, he said.
Meanwhile, a group under the banner of July Mancha staged a sit-in outside Gate No 1 of the Secretariat near the Osmani Memorial Auditorium where they made different slogans against the government employees movement and fascism.
The interim government on Sunday promulgated the ‘Government Service (amendment) Ordinance 2025’ in a gazette, introducing stricter disciplinary measures for government employees.
It was approved earlier on May 22 in a meeting of the advisory council. The ordinance amends the Government Service Act 2018 by introducing a provision that lists activities considered ‘misconduct’.