For the third consecutive day, civil servants from various ministries and divisions staged protest marches at the Bangladesh Secretariat, voicing fierce opposition to the newly promulgated Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.
Demonstrators began gathering at the Secretariat’s Badamtala area around 11am on Monday, responding to an earlier call to protest issued by the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Council.
The ordinance, which was approved at a meeting of the interim government’s advisory council last Thursday and officially promulgated on Sunday, amends the original Public Service Act of 2018.
Protesters have labelled the amendment a “black law”, arguing that it curtails constitutional rights and seeks to suppress legitimate dissent within the civil service.
Many believe the law could be used to silence criticism and prevent government employees from collectively raising grievances or demanding workplace reforms.
The new law introduces a series of provisions that categorise certain forms of employee behaviour—such as abstaining from work without permission, inciting others to do the same, or engaging in acts deemed disloyal—as misconduct.
Penalties range from demotion to outright dismissal. A fast-track disciplinary process has also been introduced, under which charges must be framed within seven days, and employees are required to respond within another seven working days if found guilty.
Although appeals are allowed within 30 working days, any punishment directly issued by the president may only be reviewed by petitioning the president.
With over 1.5 million public servants across Bangladesh, the ordinance has ignited widespread anxiety within government offices.
Critics argue that the law not only undermines workers’ rights but also instils a climate of fear, deterring collective action even in cases of legitimate grievance.
Md Badiul Kabir, president of the united council, reaffirmed the protesters’ resolve: “This is a black law. We will not stop until it is repealed.”
Demonstrators say they will continue their movement if the government fails to withdraw or revise the ordinance, raising the stakes for the interim administration already facing scrutiny over governance and labour relations.