Bangladesh: Officials from 25 Cadres Demand Full-Day Work Stoppage Today
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Synopsis
On March 2, officials from 25 cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service held a strike in Dhaka, protesting the suspension of government officers who were penalized for their social media expressions. The Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council organized the protest to demand reinstatement and address systemic inequalities within the civil service.
Key Takeaways
- Strike initiated by 25 cadres of Bangladesh Civil Service.
- Protest against suspension for social media expressions.
- Officials wore black badges and held banners.
- Call for reinstatement with a one-week ultimatum.
- 15 proposals presented to address cadre disparities.
Dhaka, March 2 (NationPress) Officials from 25 different cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service initiated a strike on Sunday to protest the suspension of government officers, as reported by local media.
The Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council in Bangladesh declared a full-day work stoppage to express solidarity with the suspended government officials. These individuals faced suspension simply for sharing their opinions on social media.
A press release from the organization revealed that the officials would gather in front of their workplaces wearing black badges and displaying banners to signify their protest, according to the nation's prominent newspaper, The Daily Star.
The organization claimed that 13 officials from various cadres were suspended for minor infractions, such as Facebook posts, while no disciplinary action was taken against members of the administration cadre for similar conduct.
"The administration cadre has taken advantage of a biased state system to oppress officials from the other 25 cadres," the organization stated.
During a meeting with local media in Bangladesh on Saturday, Inter-State Council Coordinator Muhammad Mofizur Rahman announced, "We are issuing a one-week ultimatum for the reinstatement of the officials who faced suspension for expressing their personal views on social media."
Mofizur cautioned that if the issue is not resolved within the week, they would introduce more stringent measures.
"We trust that the relevant authorities will take the necessary steps to resolve this situation," Mofizur emphasized.
The council also proposed 15 measures to address inequalities among Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadres while conversing with media representatives.
Mofizur pointed out that proposals for establishing profession-based ministries and abolishing the quota system for deputy secretary appointments had previously been submitted to the Public Administration Reform Commission by the 25 cadres.
According to local media reports, the Public Administration Reform Commission had earlier drafted a report suggesting a 50:50 quota for the administration cadre and all other cadres for deputy secretary positions.
"If this report is fully implemented, it will jeopardize state reform initiatives and reinforce administrative authoritarianism," Mofizur stated while addressing local media on Saturday.
