Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus-Led Govt Faces Growing Unrest Over New Service Law

Paramilitary forces deployed as protests by government employees intensify, demanding repeal of controversial new ordinance.

May 27, 2025: Tensions are escalating in Bangladesh as the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus deployed paramilitary forces to the secretariat on Tuesday. The deployment comes as protests against the newly introduced Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 entered their fourth day.

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Photos and reports from the scene show civil officials protesting inside the secretariat building in Dhaka, demanding the repeal of the ordinance that grants the government sweeping powers to dismiss employees for disciplinary breaches without formal proceedings. The ongoing protests have already caused a two-week tax collection standstill, resulting in significant financial losses.

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Heavy Security in Dhaka
According to the news agency PTI, security was significantly ramped up around the central administrative offices. Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, and the elite anti-crime Raid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed at key points in the complex. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned rallies and gatherings in the area, and journalists and visitors were barred from entering.

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Why Are Government Employees Protesting?
The protests erupted after President’s office issued the ordinance, which allows immediate termination of employees for four types of disciplinary breaches via a show-cause notice—bypassing standard procedures. Protesters described the ordinance as an “unlawful black law,” and chanted slogans such as “Abolish the unlawful black law” and “No compromise, only struggle.”

All employee organisations at the secretariat have vowed to continue their demonstrations until the controversial law is withdrawn.

Broader Political Context
The protests come amid a broader movement demanding national elections, nine months after the interim government assumed power. Meanwhile, student-run group July Mancha, an ally of the interim government, has been holding counter-protests supporting the administration’s move.

The Dhaka Tribune reported that since Yunus took office, the law-and-order situation has worsened and many citizens believe that only an elected government can resolve the current crisis.

As Bangladesh grapples with growing unrest, the question remains: will the government heed the protesters’ demands, or will the confrontation intensify further?

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Bangladesh protests, Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh interim government, Dhaka protests, service law amendment, Bangladesh politics, secretariat protests, Bangladesh elections