The government has temporarily suspended fourteen employees of the Bangladesh Secretariat following their involvement in a protest demanding reinstatement of the 'Secretariat allowance'.
As part of the move, the respective ministries have issued official notifications on December 15, saying the employees have breached the government service regulations. As of now, the suspended staff members are on temporary leave pending further inquiry.
The suspensions have come into effect after a court has accepted the charge-sheet in a case filed against the employees.
On December 10, the suspended employees, under the banner of 'Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Sanyukta Parishad' (BSOESP), began demonstration, demanding implementation of the allowances, historically granted to the Secretariat staff.
They blocked access to the office of Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed for six hours, from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The finance adviser eventually left the office with police assistance.
The protestors resumed their demonstration on the following day (Dec 11) despite assurances from the government that their demands would be met.
The authorities responded firmly, and the law-enforcement agencies arrested several individuals from the Secretariat under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009. A court subsequently placed them on remand.
Among those suspended are key protest leaders, including BSOESP president Badiul Kabir, vice-president Shahin Golam Rabbani, and joint convenor Nazrul Islam.
Others suspended employees include Md. Tayeful Islam, Bikash Chandra Roy, Islamul Haque, Md. Mohsin Ali, Roman Gazi, and Abu Belal of the Ministry of Health; Mizanur Rahman Sumon of the Ministry of Information; Kamal Hossain and Mohammad Alimuzzaman of the Ministry of Public Administration; Bipul Rana Biplob of the Ministry of Finance; and Nasirul Haque of the Cabinet Division.
Meanwhile, the use of the Anti-Terrorism Act against civil servants has drawn criticism from different quarters, who have opined that the legislation is disproportionate for workplace-related protests. The government sources have said the employees have violated established protocols for grievance redressal and disrupted official functions.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
