New public service ordinance: Govt mulls softening strict provisions

The government is considering changes to the newly issued "Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025" so that it can soften harsh provisions and incorporate clauses to ensure workplace safety for female employees.

This development comes amid protests by government employees demanding the cancellation of the ordinance.

At least two top officials said the decision to amend was made in a meeting held at the office of Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the railways ministry, on Monday afternoon, just a day after the ordinance was issued.

The meeting was also attended by Adilur Rahman Khan, adviser to the housing and public works ministry; Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, special assistant to the chief adviser assigned to the home ministry; Sheikh Abdur Rashid, cabinet secretary; and Mokhles Ur Rahman, senior secretary to the public administration ministry.

According to sources present at the meeting, an extensive discussion was held regarding section 37(A) of the ordinance, which outlines punishment for "insubordination".

This section allows severe punishment of any employee for even minor offences. A specific clarification regarding the term "insubordination" was asked to be added, said sources.

The officials, who would be working on the changes, were asked to submit recommendations to ensure female employees do not face harassment at work.

Meanwhile, several secretaries expressed dissatisfaction over the newly issued ordinance to the cabinet secretary during an informal meeting of secretaries at the Cabinet Division yesterday.

At least three secretaries who attended the meeting told The Daily Star that top officials felt a sense of unease regarding the ordinance, which prompted the recent protests by lower-tier government employees.

The protesters yesterday suspended their demonstration at the Secretariat for today following assurances from the authorities.

A secretary who joined the meeting of secretaries, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent, "We don't understand why it was necessary to amend the Public Service Act. Around 1.5 million employees are directly impacted -- positively or negatively -- by this law. Why was such a sensitive amendment rushed through? These questions were raised during the meeting."

Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid called the meeting with all secretaries around 10:00am yesterday, according to sources at the Secretariat.

During the meeting, several secretaries raised questions about the rationale behind the formulation of the ordinance. A secretary questioned the necessity of rushing the ordinance process.

At the meeting, ASM Saleh Ahmed, senior secretary to the land ministry, opined that it would be appropriate to hold talks with the protesting employees. Several secretaries supported it.

Following the discussions, a five-member committee of secretaries was formed, with Saleh Ahmed as its convener, to hold discussions with the employees.

A few hours after the committee was formed, a meeting between the committee and leaders of the protesting employees was held.

After the meeting, committee convener Saleh Ahmed told reporters that the employees demanded cancellation of the ordinance. "We will convey their demand to the cabinet secretary. The cabinet secretary will inform the higher authorities of the government, and you will be informed of the government's decision in due course."

Speaking to this newspaper, Nazrul Islam, a leader of the Secretariat employees, said, "We presented the flaws in the ordinance before the secretaries. They did not disagree with our arguments. We hope this will lead to a positive outcome."

Another employee leader, Badiul Kabir, said, "We have suspended Wednesday's [today's] protest programme. If our demands are not met, we will talk to all stakeholders and announce the next programme."

Employees from various ministries and divisions held protest rallies and processions inside the Secretariat yesterday despite a ban imposed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

To avoid any untoward incident, tight security was enforced in and around the Secretariat. Members of SWAT and BGB were deployed at the main gate, while personnel from the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Rab, and police were stationed at other entrances.

Until 1:00pm, no one except Secretariat employees and those invited to official meetings were allowed to enter the premises.