With police assistance, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed left the Secretariat at 8:15pm after being confined for 6 hours. Earlier, from 2:30pm, he was confined by officials demanding a 20 percent ‘Secretariat Allowance’ for all employees working at the Secretariat.
From 2:30pm on Wednesday, employees confined the Adviser inside his office at the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance in the Secretariat.
Prior to this, when a specialised police unit entered, the agitators tried to disperse them by blowing whistles. At one point, a scuffle ensued between the police and the agitators. During this time, the agitators continued chanting various slogans, including questioning why the police raised their hands.
Earlier, after 2pm, officers and employees from various ministries and divisions, participating in the demand for a 20 percent Secretariat Allowance for employees working at the Secretariat, sat down in front of the adviser’s door. The protesters, using a hand microphone in front of the Adviser’s door, chanted slogans of “bhua, bhua!” (fake, fake!).
It is noteworthy that the government announced the introduction of a Dearness Allowance for government employees but has not implemented it. The work of the new Pay Commission is nearing its final stages. The Finance Adviser has stated several times that an elected government will implement the Pay Commission.
Prior to this, on 22 June, employees also staged a protest in front of the Finance Division demanding the cancellation of the Government Service Ordinance.
Earlier, the government has repeatedly issued orders banning all types of meetings and assemblies in the Secretariat. This week as well, after the schedule announcement, everyone has been instructed to refrain from conducting any illegal and unauthorised public gatherings or movements.
However, these orders are repeatedly violated, and meetings and assemblies on various demands continue unabated in the Secretariat.
