The officials and employees of various ministries on Wednesday staged demonstration on the Secretariat premises, demanding the removal of a Joint Secretary of the Finance Division for misbehaving with fellow colleagues.
They also urged the authorities concerned to keep reserve higher positions such as the posts of deputy secretary, senior assistant secretary, and assistant secretary for non-cadre officers.
The protesters alleged that Nadira Sultana, the Joint Secretary of the Finance Division, incited chaos at the Secretariat by misbehaving with employees.
Under the banner of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Joint Council, the protesters also staged a sit-in programme on Tuesday in front of the office of Md Obaidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Appointment, Promotion, and Deputation (APD) Wing of the Ministry of Public Administration.
They also submitted a written complaint to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, demanding punitive measures against Nadira Sultana.
Sources said that employees gathered on the Secretariat premises on Wednesday morning and marched on the roads at the Secretariat.
Before ending at the Ministry of Public Administration, they also announced for holding fresh programmes on Thursday.
According to some protesting employees, non-cadre officials have a reserved promotion quota for positions like Assistant Secretary, Senior Assistant Secretary, and Deputy Secretary. However, they claimed that these officials have not received their due promotions for a long time.
Earlier, a nine-member committee was formed to address their concerns. Although most of the committee members signed a report proposing a solution to the problem, Nadira Sultana refused to sign the paper.
Badiul Kabir, President of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Joint Council, said that two administrative officers from the
Ministry of Public Administration—Ziaur Rahman and Aslam—visited the Finance Division on Tuesday afternoon to have Nadira Sultana’s signature.
Instead of signing the paper, she mistreated them and threatened them, they said. Following this incident, Ziaur Rahman fell unconscious and vomited twice. Even, he was not allowed to drink some water.
Upon receiving the news, employees from the Ministry of Public Administration and the Finance Division rushed to the scene and took the unconscious official to the Secretariat Clinic. As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to Government Employee Hospital in Fulbaria, where his condition improved slightly.
The news of the Joint Secretary's misconduct spread quickly, prompting employees from various ministries to gather in front of the Ministry of Public Administration, chanting slogans for her immediate transfer and disciplinary action.
Badiul Kabir said that such inappropriate behavior and attempts to disturb the Secretariat’s peaceful environment must not go unpunished.
He demanded Nadira Sultana’s immediate transfer and appropriate action for allegedly conspiring against the government.
In response to the outcry, APD Additional Secretary Obaidur Rahman intervened and ordered Nadira Sultana to sign the report.
