United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Secretariat employees will observe a mass campaign on 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.” Secretariat employees to observe 2-hour work abstention today 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. Secretariat employees to observe 2-hour work abstention on Monday 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.

Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced a march and mass campaign programme across the country on February 11 (Saturday) to press home their 14-point demand, including the resignation of the Awami League government. Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, announced the fresh programmes as part of the ongoing simultaneous movement from a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday. “We announce a nationwide march and mass campaign programme on February 11, to realise our 14-point demand, including protection of voting rights, restoration of democratic rights, the resignation of this government, holding an acceptable election under a non-partisan interim government and reduction of prices of power, gas, and daily essentials,” he said. Apart from Ganatantra Mancha, Saiful hoped that BNP and other opposition parties and alliances who are on the simultaneous movement will also announce the same programme from their respective positions. Read more: New opposition alliance ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ launched In Dhaka, he said Ganatantra Mancha will start march from Mirpur-12 at 10 am towards Motijhleel via Farmgate, Shahbagh, and Paltan. At the same time, Saiful said their alliance will observe a similar programme at the district and divisional levels all over the country. He said people have started taking to the streets and they will not return home until the government is ousted. As part of a countrywide programme of the simultaneous movement, Ganatantra Mancha arranged the rally, to push for their 14-point demand. After the rally, the leaders and activists of the alliance brought out a procession toward Kakrail. Meanwhile, BNP began a rally at 2pm in front of its Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government and holding the next election under a non-party caretaker government. The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies started gathering Nayapaltan at noon to join the rally. Read more: BNP unveils 4-day march programme in Dhaka from Jan 28 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the rally as the chief guest. He can announce a countrywide march programme on February 11 like Ganatantra Mancha. BNP is also holding rallies in all other divisions of the country also to protest the hikes in power and gas tariffs and repression on the opposition leaders and activists.