A grand rally over a nine-point demand called by the employees at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday has been postponed.
Badiul Kabir, president of Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees United Council, told reporters about the program's suspension after a meeting with Mokhles Ur Rahman, Senior Secretary at Public Administration Ministry, and ASM Saleh Ahmed, Land Secretary, at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Badiul Kabir said: “Understanding the tension prevailing in the Secretariat, the Public Administration Secretary, Land Secretary, and senior officials sat down and accepted the logic of our demand. We have been assured that the demands will be implemented in phases after the discussion. So, we have announced the postponement of the rally.”
Public Administration Ministry Senior Secretary Mokhles Ur Rahman said: “There are over 2,000 personal and administrative employees at the Secretariat. They were deprived of salaries and promotions for a long time. Now none of their 9-point demands are unreasonable. These demands can be met but are time-consuming. Some demands can be met immediately, but some are long-term.”
Land Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed said: “We have discussed these demands of the employees of the Secretariat. Their demands will be met step by step.
“There are some legal complications that need to be discussed with the chief adviser," he added.
The Administrative Officers (AOs) and Personal Officers (POs) of the Secretariat have been protesting for some time demanding the nine-point demand.
On last Thursday, the president of the Officers-Employees United Council called for a grand rally at the Secretariat on Wednesday, if the demands were not met.
The Officers-Employees United Council called a grand rally at the Secretariat on Wednesday to press for 9-point demands, including providing financial benefits to the long-standing deprived officials, payment of 50 per cent dearness allowance till the formation of the new pay commission, introduction of time scale and selection grade, introduction of rationing system, increasing the retirement age, changing the name of the post and promotion.