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Amidst widespread protests by public employees, the government has published an amended ordinance revising the Public Service Act, 2018, which allows easier dismissal of employees.
The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the law ministry issued the gazette of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 on Sunday night.
Earlier in the day, government officials and employees struck work and demonstrated inside the high-security secretariat to protest a new ordinance rewriting their service rules, and swore a pledge not to resume duty until it is withdrawn.
President of Bangladesh Secretariat Officials and Employees United Council Md Badiul Kabir announced the work-abstention during the demonstrations staged with the main gate of Bangladesh Secretariat-government's administrative headquarters locked from inside, says a firsthand account of the scenes.
The backlash against the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 flares up, incidentally, hot on the heels of pen-down strike and declared shutdown from Monday by taxmen in protest against another new ordinance proclaimed by the interim government bifurcating the National Board of Revenue into two divisions.
Meanwhile, the NBR staff postponed their strike Sunday as the finance ministry withheld execution of the ordinance until July 31 for necessary amendments.
The secretariat protest leader, Badiul Kabir, sounded a note of warning that they would resist what they call evil designs laid down in the ordinance.
"We would resist their evil attempts laid in this ordinance. It is an oppressive law. We wouldn't return to our respective work until complete withdrawal of this ordinance. We will remain in front of the building no six of Bangladesh Secretariat," he said.
He said they had talk with the advisers and secretaries but none assured them of resolving their problems, forcing them to wage movement.
All the officials and employees of Bangladesh Secretariat are enraged over the draft of the ordinance for amending the Public Service Act 2018, he said, amid slogans shouted by the demonstrators.
They have found in the ordinance provisions for punitive action for breaking official discipline, putting obstruction on discharging duties, absence from workplace without leave and instigating dereliction duty.
Earlier, the officials and employees gathered in front of the building No. 6 (Badamtoli area) of the secretariat from around 9:30 am. By 10:00 am, the premises had been packed with protesters.
Shortly after 10:00 am, a procession began, led by Md Nurul Islam and Md Mojahidul Islam, president and general secretary respectively of a faction of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Council.
The door was shut around 20 minutes and none could get in or out of the virtually besieged Bangladesh Secretariat at the time.
The procession started in front of the Building No 6 and marched past the Cabinet Division, the new building and the clinic building before terminating in front of the building No 11.
After a brief stop there, the demonstrators continued marching around the Secretariat premises-a latest one of several such scenes in the secretariat since the changeover in state power following the August-5th uprising.
They chanted slogans 'Be united, fight together', 'We don't accept illegal black law', 'Our demand- our demand must be accepted'.
Secretary-General Nizam Uddin Ahmed and other leaders of the joint council were present.
Officials and employees across all levels have expressed anger over the draft ordinance amending the Public Service Act of 2018, they claimed.
Ordinance provisions allow dismissal from service without the opportunity for self-defence in cases of breach of discipline, obstruction to duties, unauthorised absence, or incitement to desert duties.
On May 22, the draft of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 received final approval at a meeting of the Advisory Council of the interim government.
However, four advisers have been assigned to further review of the entire spectrum of developments.
Officials and employees have declared that their movement will continue until the ordinance is rescinded.
Earlier, officials and employees from various levels also held protests at the Secretariat on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the government formed Sunday a ten- member committee aiming to deal with the demands of the officials and employees of Bangladesh Secretariat.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com