The government on Wednesday beefed up security measures in and around Bangladesh Secretariat amid protests and demonstrations of government employees under the banner of Bangladesh Secretariat Officers-Employees United Council (Bangladesh Sachibaloy Karmakarta-Karmachari Sanjukta Parishad).
The government employees have been protesting in front of the Public Administration Ministry at the Secretariat for last two days pressing for their nine-point demands including punishment of Finance Division Joint Secretary Nadira Sultana, who misbehaved with the employees.
The Wednesday protest started at the very beginning of the office hours. They have taken position in front of the Public Administration Ministry led by its president Badiul Kabir.
According to sources in the organization, they have started the sit-in programme to create pressure on the authorities concerned, so that they create the environment of discussion with their leaders.
According to witnesses, the security officials have closed all gates to the Secretariat and beefed up the security measures. Additional security personnel were deployed surrounding the most important key point installation (KPI) of the government.
The leaders of the parishad said there is a quota for promoting the non-cadre officers to the rank of assistant secretary, senior assistant secretary and deputy secretary.
However, the authorities have not followed the quota duly depriving the non-cadre officials. Taking the advantage, the cadre officials have filled the posts preserved for the non-cadre officers of the three ranks.
As a result, resentment was prevailing among the promotion desiring non-cadre officers and employees. After the changeover of power and changed political situation, the deprived officers had drawn the attention of the high officials of the interim government and a nine-member committee was formed to resolve the issue.
After necessary works, the eight members of the nine-member committee have already signed the documents prepared after several meetings. Only Nadira Sultana refrained from signing the documents.
The employees informed that when they went to the joint secretary for signing the document, she misbehaved with them. Being shocked with the behaviour of the senior officers, Ziaur Rahman, a leader of the organization fell sick and become senseless.
Later, he was admitted to Government Employees Hospital. It sparked discontent among the employees and they started agitating.
The leaders of the organization demanded immediate transfer and punishment of the joint secretary.
They informed that in this situation, Joint Secretary Nadira Sultana signed the document after the directives of Additional Secretary (APD Wing) Obaidur Rahman. But, the employees continued demanding her punishment and transfer from the position.
According to the sources, Joint Secretary Nadira was opposing the decision of preserving posts for the lower grade officials and employees.
