Protests continue at Secretariat

• DMP bans all kinds of gatherings in and around Secretariat
• Home ministry bars visitors' entry 
• Demonstrations slated to resume at 10:00am today

Protests swept through the government's administrative core yesterday as employees from different ministries and divisions demonstrated for the third consecutive day inside the Secretariat, demanding the withdrawal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

The agitation disrupted administrative operations as employees walked out of their offices and protested for around three and a half hours. The demonstrators urged government staffers across the country to join in.

Against this backdrop, the home ministry has decided to bar visitors from entering the Secretariat today. The decision came in an office order issued by the ministry's Secretariat Security Branch last night.

Also, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police imposed a ban on all rallies, processions, and public gatherings in and around the Secretariat, including adjacent areas and the State Guest House Jamuna -- the official residence of the chief adviser.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Muhammad Talebur Rahman in a press release said the restrictions were enforced following a public notice issued by the DMP commissioner. He urged all concerned to comply with the directive in the interest of maintaining law and order.

Photo: Amran Hossain

Meanwhile, National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah criticised the halt in administrative services and told protesting employees that they "can be replaced".

Protesters, under the banner of "Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum", yesterday vowed to continue their agitation until the ordinance, which was gazetted on Sunday night, is repealed.

"Our demand is legitimate. That's why we have decided to continue our demonstration tomorrow [Tuesday]," said Nazrul Islam, co-general secretary of the forum.

Terming the ordinance repressive, Nazrul, also an officer at the public administration ministry, said, "We're not against the government; we're against this repressive law. If the government doesn't come to its senses, the movement will spread beyond the Secretariat to offices nationwide."

Badiul Kabir, co-chairman of the forum, added, "Our programmes will continue until this 'black law' or ordinance is completely withdrawn. Once it is repealed, we'll announce the end of our movement."

The interim government promulgated the ordinance just three days after it was approved by the Advisory Council last Thursday. The gazette came out on Sunday night.

Yesterday's demonstrations began around 11:00am, with several hundred employees assembling at Badamtola, near Building No-6 on the Secretariat premises.

From there, they marched to the Cabinet Division's new building and staged a brief sit-in.

The protesters then moved past Buildings No-4 and 5, entered Building No-6, and advanced toward the main entrance at Gate No-2. As employees gathered there, security personnel closed the gate. The nearby Gate No-3 was also shut for about half an hour as a precautionary measure.

Before wrapping up the demonstrations at around 2:30pm, the leaders announced a fresh protest march for today, as a scheduled meeting with Law Adviser Asif Nazrul did not take place due to his reported unavailability.

Protest leaders then called on government office staffers across the country to hold similar programmes in solidarity.

Concerns over the ordinance have also been echoed by female Secretariat staffers, who are not often seen in protest. Several female officials were visibly active in the demonstrations against the ordinance.

Chameli Akter Banu, an administrative officer at the public administration ministry, told this newspaper, "We're worried as the ordinance mentions loyalty to individuals. If any officer makes inappropriate proposals and a female subordinate refuses, that officer might retaliate using this law. That's why we reject such a provision."

Lima Akter, an administrative officer at the commerce ministry, alleged that female employees are often subjected to harassment.

"As women, we balance both office duties and household responsibilities. Naturally, that may lead to occasional delays or minor issues. If even small mistakes result in punishment under this ordinance, how are we supposed to continue our jobs?"

Public administration expert and former additional secretary Firoz Mia called these concerns legitimate.

"The authorities have failed to demonstrate credibility in drafting such an important law. A law can be strict, but there is no room for repression," he told The Daily Star last night.

He added that several rules and regulations for government employees were weakened under the Awami League government, thus necessitating stricter laws. "However, the provisions included in the new Public Service Ordinance are repressive. Therefore, the ongoing protests by government employees are justified.

"Civil servants should remain loyal to the state, not to any individual. The proposed ordinance mentions loyalty to individuals, which is unacceptable in a modern bureaucracy."

Currently, there are around 1.5 million government officers and employees in the country. Under the ordinance, all are considered public servants.

Meanwhile, civil service officers, protesting what they called discriminatory suspension and departmental actions by administration cadre officials against other cadres, are set to begin a countrywide pen-down strike from today.

Their demands include the establishment of ministry-based professional autonomy, the abolition of the deputy secretary pool quota, and equality among all cadres.

A pen-down strike is a form of protest where employees, especially those in administrative or desk-based roles, refuse to work by simply putting down their pens and halting duties.

According to a press release from the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council, officers from 25 different cadres will observe the strike on May 27 and 28 (today and tomorrow), from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Emergency services, including hospital emergency departments, will remain outside its purview.

Blasting the Secretariat protests, NCP Chief Coordinator (South) Hasnat Abdullah yesterday warned of public backlash if ongoing administrative reforms are disrupted, saying the government employees should not assume they are irreplaceable.

"During the July uprising, you [Secretariat employees] wore black badges in support of Sheikh Hasina and continued work. Now you're threatening to bring work and all office services to a halt. But you didn't question Sheikh Hasina's authority, nor did anyone resign in protest [during the uprising]," he told journalists outside Biplob Udyan at Sholashahar Gate No-2 in Chattogram.

"If the fascist Awami League regime had remained in power, you would have gone back to flattering them and resumed your work."

He warned the protesting bureaucrats: "If you threaten this government and obstruct the reform process, we, the people, will take steps … Remember that the people will find your replacements.

"If the government is held hostage in this way, let me warn you that the situation will not be good. I urge you to cooperate with the government and the reform agenda. If you have reservations, settle them internally and move forward."

Photo: Prabir Das