Secretariat employees suspend work abstention, announces new programmes

Bangladesh Secretariat Oikya Forum on Thursday suspended its one-hour work abstention and announced to submit memorandums to five advisers on Sunday and Monday to press home its demand for scrapping the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.

The announcement came at a press briefing held at the central library of the Secretariat following a one-hour work abstention.

Md Nurul Islam, co-chairman of the forum, said, "We will submit memorandums to Advisers Ali Imam Majumder, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan and Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Sunday. On Monday, memorandums will be handed over to Advisers Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain."

He stressed the need for a specific timeline regarding the issue and said, “We have four working days before Eid. We cannot wait forever. We've heard that the Chief Adviser is expected to return this Saturday. In that case, we are hopeful of receiving positive news on Sunday. However, that does not mean we are backing down from our movement.”

He expressed hope that the cabinet secretary, the secretary of Public Administration Ministry and other relevant officials would hold talks with the Chief Adviser upon his return and deliver a favourable outcome. “We are holding on to that hope,” he said.

Nurul further mentioned that memorandums would also be submitted to the cabinet secretary through heads of institutions and agencies working at the field level.

“If we get a positive response on Sunday, we will withdraw all our protest programmes and celebrate Eid with a sense of achievement,” he added.

Earlier in the day, employees from various ministries and divisions observed a one-hour work abstention from 10 am at the secretariat, in line with their pre-declared programme demanding the repeal of the 'Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025'.