Amid protests by government officers and employees demanding the withdrawal of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, secretaries tasked with resolving the issue on Wednesday presented the demonstrators' demands to Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who is expected to convey them to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, currently on an official trip to Japan, with a decision anticipated upon his return.

The information was provided by Land Ministry Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed.


A committee consisting of seven secretaries, formed to address the issue, met with the cabinet secretary at the Secretariat to discuss the issue surrounding the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance.

As per a prior decision, senior officials, including Saleh, met with the cabinet secretary in the morning to convey the contents of Tuesday’s meeting with protesting employees.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Saleh said they informed the cabinet secretary of the employees’ demands and the discussions.

He added that the cabinet secretary is not in a position to make a decision on the matter and will refer it to the chief adviser instead.

Notably, Yunus has travelled to Japan to attend the Nikkei Forum's "Future of Asia" conference, where he will also hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

He is scheduled to return to the country on Saturday following a four-day visit, after which the cabinet secretary will inform him about the employees' demands.

Meanwhile, Nurul Islam, co-chairman of the Secretariat Officers-Employees Unity Forum, said a decision on the movement and protest program will be announced after discussions with the land secretary.

Nurul mentioned that after receiving such a message from the top administrative official, the leaders of the Officers-Employees Joint Council met at the Bangladesh Secretariat to determine their next course of action.

Earlier, at Tuesday's meeting with the secretaries, the employee leaders demanded a complete repeal of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance

The protesting employee leaders are expected to meet with the land secretary in the afternoon.

Following that, they will brief other employees about the discussions with the cabinet secretary.

Last Thursday, the Advisory Council approved the draft of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

On Sunday, the government published the gazette for the ordinance, which includes provisions for punishment, dismissal, and removal of officials and employees.

Several new provisions have been added to the law, including the authority to terminate officials and employees with just eight days' notice and without an investigation.

Secretariat officials and employees are protesting these provisions, calling the new ordinance a “repressive black law” and demanding its immediate repeal.