Government employees at the Bangladesh Secretariat have declared a two-hour work abstention on Monday in continued protest against the controversial Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum announced the program during today’s protest rally, with chairman Md Nurul Islam confirming the work stoppage would be observed from 11am to 1pm across all ministries.
The demonstration began at 11:15am today with hundreds of employees gathering at the Finance Ministry’s ground floor before marching through various sections of the Secretariat complex. Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans condemning what they describe as a “black law” that threatens job security and service benefits.
This follows their June 19 protest where employees first raised concerns about the ordinance being drafted without stakeholder consultation, potentially enabling arbitrary employment decisions.
At the heart of the controversy are provisions allowing dismissal without full departmental inquiry for four types of disciplinary offenses, requiring only a show-cause notice for termination. Employees argue these changes reverse long-standing service protections and were implemented without proper consultation.
The Unity Forum has warned of escalating protests, with Islam stating, “We’ll announce tougher programs soon if our demands remain unmet,” referring to their central demand for complete ordinance withdrawal.
The ordinance’s journey began with approval by the Advisory Council on May 22 before being formally promulgated on May 25, triggering immediate backlash. Since May 24, Secretariat employees have maintained steady resistance through various forms of protest including regular marches, work abstentions, sit-in demonstrations, and submission of memorandums to government advisers.
Today’s rally demonstrates sustained opposition to the ordinance, which employees claim undermines fundamental worker protections. With both sides maintaining their positions, the standoff continues as the government has yet to respond to the protesters’ demands while employees pledge to intensify their movement until the ordinance is repealed.