Staff Correspondent:

Bangladesh Secretariat employees will observe a mass campaign today (Tuesday) demanding the cancellation of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025.

The announcement came on Monday after the employees staged a two-hour work abstention programme from 11 am to 1 pm as part of their ongoing movement.

During the work stoppage, employees from various ministries and departments gathered at the Central Library on the third floor of Building-2 in the Secretariat.

Speaking at the event, Md Badiul Kabir, Co-chairman of Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees Unity Forum, said, “We will conduct a mass campaign inside the Secretariat tomorrow (Tuesday) to press home our demand for repealing the ordinance.”

Urging employees’ leaders to refrain from making provocative remarks, another Co-chairman of the forum Nurul Islam said, “We have not received any positive message from authorities. Former Chief Election Commissioners have been publicly humiliated, paraded with shoes around their necks. Those currently misusing power should take lessons, as everyone will face consequences for their actions.”

Secretariat employees launched their movement on May 24, demanding the withdrawal of the draft Public Service Ordinance after its approval by the Advisory Council.

The government, however, promulgated the ordinance on May 25 amid protests.

According to the ordinance, employees can be dismissed without departmental proceedings for four categories of disciplinary offences, with only a show-cause notice required.

Ahead of the Eid holidays, employees staged protests inside the Secretariat until June 3. They also submitted memorandums to seven government advisers, warning of tougher protests if the ordinance was not scrapped by June 15.

On June 4, the Cabinet Division formed a review committee led by Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul to assess the ordinance and submit recommendations.

The committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting Monday afternoon.

The Law Adviser has urged employees to refrain from further protests until the committee submits its recommendations.