Leaflets, cops rule barren Secretariat

Trackback URL

Download PDF

The government and private offices wore a deserted look yesterday after a three-day Eid holidays and two-day weekly holidays, as very few people turned up due to the opposition enforced Dhaka siege programme.
The same atmosphere prevailed at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the headquarters of all ministries and offices of the Republic, with a very thin attendance.

No minister came to the secretariat, while only a few officials were present at their offices for some hours, but left early fearing fresh street violence. Panic and tension were in the air inside the secretariat due to the presence of a huge number of law enforcers, uniformed and plain-clothes.

Meanwhile, several unnamed leaflets were thrown from the secretariat buildings, in which names of top officials who allegedly maintained ’special relations’ with the alliance government, made fortune and politicised the civil administration, were published.

Witnesses said a 5-page leaflet that listed several secretaries and other top officials were thrown from the top of the 20-storied building no-6 of the secretariat at around 1:30pm.

Police personnel and reporters were seen running throughout the secretariat to catch the leaflets flying in the air.

Meantime, around 50 officials, mostly pro-Awami League (AL) and deprived of promotion during the last five years, met with newly appointed Establishment Secretary AFM Solaiman Chowdhury at around 10:00am.

They also submitted a memorandum containing 7-point demand to the establishment secretary, who was appointed by the alliance government on the last day of its office. These are — giving promotion to the deprived officials, cancellation of all contractual appointments, withdrawal of the officials appointed in various sensitive posts by the alliance government, bringing massive changes in the civil administration through preparing new fit list up to the upazila level, compensation to the officials and employees victimised by the previous regime, punishment to those who created indiscipline during alliance rule and not to use civil administration for petty political purpose.

Solaiman Chowdhury, however, told them that he had not taken the charge of the ministry yet and assured them of looking into their just demands soon. At the time of the brief meeting, some of the frustrated officials made negative comment about the establishment secretary and called him “dalal” and “razakar,” witnesses said.

But they left the spot quickly fearing arrest when they found police and other security personnel approaching. Some of them allegedly misbehaved with the journalists, especially from the TV channels, and obstructed them from discharging professional duties.

There was no business at the secretariat yesterday and the very few officials present were seen busy discussing the current political situation, sources said.

The visitors’ room at the secretariat remained empty as no one came to meet anyone.

Leave a Reply