Bangladesh govt employees halt protest as govt promises to review controversial law
The protest was suspended after the government promised to review the contentious ordinance and set up a secretarial committee for the task
After four days of protest against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh at the state secretariat in Dhaka, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025, agitating government employees put their protest on hold following an assurance from the government to review the ordinance on Tuesday (May 27).
Heavy security
The development, as reported by the Daily Star, came amid heavy security arrangements. The government deployed paramilitary force Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along with the police's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, and elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at the entrances of the secretariat. It had also banned the entry of journalists and visitors to the premises.
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Govt agrees to review law
The Daily Star quoted several leaders of the agitation saying that the protest was suspended after the government promised to review the contentious ordinance and set up a secretarial committee for the task. It also said that the ban on entry of journalists in the secretariat was also lifted during the day.
According to media reports, the ordinance allows the government to dismiss employees for four types of disciplinary breaches through a show-cause notice, without initiating formal departmental proceedings.
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How protests started
Protests erupted after the draft law was approved by the Council of Advisers on Thursday with Secretariat employees calling the law unjust and unconstitutional. They later vowed to continue their protest till the law is rolled back.
The backdrop
The protest by the government employees came after reports of a rift between Bangladesh’s military and the interim government over national security and election issues. The Army, however, told reporters on Monday that it was working in collaboration with the interim government.
“(But) there will be no compromise when it comes to the country’s independence, security, and sovereignty,” military operations director Brigadier General M Nazim-ud-Daula told the presser at Dhaka Cantonment as quoted by PTI.
Last week, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, along with the chiefs of the navy and air force, met Yunus and reiterated their call for an election by December to allow an elected government to take charge.
They also conveyed their reservation about a proposed humanitarian corridor or channel to Myanmar’s rebel-held Rakhine province.
Recently, the neighbouring country was abuzz over reports that Yunus was considering stepping down due to ongoing agitations in the country and a lack of consensus over electoral reforms among key political parties. However, on Saturday, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters after a meeting of the Advisory Council in Dhaka that Yunus never spoke of resigning and the interim government would not abandon its responsibilities.
(With Agency inputs)