Government employees at the Bangladesh Secretariat have announced a daily one-hour work stoppage starting Thursday, demanding the repeal of the recently issued Government Job (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
The protest will take place every day from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Secretariat, as well as simultaneously at divisional commissioners’ offices and district administration offices across the country. If the demand is not met by May 31, new protest programs will be announced.
The decision was announced by leaders of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum at a press briefing. They described the ordinance as repressive and illegitimate.
The forum stated that although they have received some positive signals from the authorities, they will continue their movement until the ordinance is withdrawn.
Emergency services, such as budget-related tasks and hospital duties, will be exempted from the full one-hour strike. In such cases, workers are advised to limit the stoppage to no more than 30 minutes.
Officials have raised concerns about the negative impacts of the ordinance on job security and working conditions. Government representatives have forwarded the demands to the Cabinet Secretary, who is expected to present them to the Chief Adviser.
The ordinance was officially issued last Sunday after being approved in a recent cabinet meeting. In response, thousands of employees from various ministries have been holding demonstrations inside the Secretariat, demanding its immediate withdrawal.
