New public service ordinance contains many linguistic and legal flaws
Say high-level meeting sources; Secretariat employees suspend protests for today
Protests swept through the government’s administrative core yesterday as employees from different ministries and divisions demonstrated for the third consecutive day inside the Secretariat, demanding the withdrawal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
The Advisory Council has decided to abolish a provision of the Public Service Act, 2018, which allows the government to send public servants into forced retirement after 25 years of service.
The Advisory Council has rejected the Liberation War affairs ministry’s proposal to amend the definition of “freedom fighter” and instructed the ministry to submit a revised proposal in its draft ordinance, according to council sources.
The government yesterday approved an ordinance to ensure employment, training, housing, medical care, and low-interest loans for those injured in the July uprising and families of those who were killed.
The legal expert committee of the Cabinet Division has opposed the Liberation War affairs ministry’s proposal to redefine the term “freedom fighter,” saying legal and hierarchical complications may arise from it.
The government is likely to approve the creation of over 5,500 new posts across various ministries and agencies today, following proposals submitted by at least 10 ministries and divisions, officials said.
The interim government has moved to amend the Government Service Act-2018 to allow swift disciplinary action against its employees who will be found guilty of disrupting official activities.
The government has decided to expedite the recruitment of 6,000 doctors, 30,000 assistant primary teachers, and 3,500 nurses to urgently address the rising number of vacancies in key public sector positions.
Ferdous Islam was overjoyed when he was recommended for the education cadre in the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service exam.
The Ministry of Food has recommended ration facilities for Secretariat employees, triggering dissatisfaction among the government staff in other offices and agencies.
While expectations were high for dynamic governance under this government, the bureaucracy is badly in need of vital changes that remain stalled.
The presence of women in key administrative positions is increasing, with a growing number of female officers taking on leadership roles in field administration.
18 female DCs, 158 UNOs, and 14 Secretaries leading the way
The government yesterday forced 22 more officials into retirement, raising the number of disciplined bureaucrats to 67 for their questionable role as deputy commissioners in the 2014 and 2018 sham elections under the Awami League regime.
The government has decided to take disciplinary action against 110 to 120 officials, including former deputy commissioners (DCs) and divisional commissioners still in service, who played significant roles in the engineered elections during the Awami League’s rule.
Deputy commissioners yesterday returned to work following the DC Conference-2025 with some key instructions from the government: maintain law and order; prevent corruption; curb price hike of essentials during Ramadan; and prepare for the upcoming national election.
