Employees from various ministries and divisions at the Secretariat observed a one-hour work stoppage from 10am on Thursday, demanding the repeal of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum had announced on Wednesday that Secretariat staff would observe a daily one-hour work stoppage until their demand is met.
The forum also called upon field-level offices, such as the offices of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, to observe the same program simultaneously.
The unity forum leaders further stated on Wednesday that a new set of programs would be announced after Saturday if their demand remains unfulfilled.
At around 10:15am on Thursday, the forum's co-chairman, Badiul Kabir, told the Bangla daily Prothom Alo that the work stoppage was underway across various ministries and divisions.
He added that they would soon gather in the library of the Ministry of Public Administration.
According to media reports, a significant number of employees were assembled in the library.
However, a few employees were present at their respective workplaces in other departments, the reports say.
Last week, the Advisory Council of the interim government approved the draft of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 by amending the Government Service Act, 2018.
After that, employees from different ministries and divisions launched protests against the draft ordinance.
Secretariat employees have been demonstrating since Saturday to press for their demand.
On Sunday evening, in the midst of these protests, the government officially issued the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance.
