13 daily-wage employees dismissed without cause at Rajshahi GPO: Human chain protest held

Rajshahi's postal department has become restive following the dismissal of 13 daily-wage employees who had long provided uninterrupted service at the Rajshahi GPO, Ghoramara Head Post Office, and its subordinate sub-post offices, without any show-cause notice. Protesting this unilateral decision and demanding the reinstatement of their jobs, the employees have issued a 24-hour ultimatum.

A human chain and protest rally was organized by the "Bangladesh Daily Wage Employee Association, Rajshahi Division" in front of the main gate of the Rajshahi GPO on Wednesday (August 19) afternoon. Following the rally, a memorandum was submitted to the Senior Postmaster demanding the immediate and unconditional cancellation of the termination order and the reinstatement of the victims to their respective positions.

Employees from various government and autonomous offices in Rajshahi instantly expressed solidarity with this righteous movement and participated in the program. Among them were employees from the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), BADC, Rajshahi WASA, Silk Development Board, Rajshahi Betar, and the Public Works Department.

At the rally, participating employees raised sharp protests holding banners and festoons inscribed with: "Return the livelihoods of 13 families cut off by a single notice," "We want recognition of labor, not slavery," and "We demand job security."

The dismissal order was issued under a memo number on August 16, 2026, from the office of the Senior Postmaster of Rajshahi GPO. The order stated that the decision was based on the report of a unilateral committee formed on August 6 (Memo No: 84).

Strongly criticizing the order, speakers at the rally highlighted several administrative and legal discrepancies, stating that the dismissal order was issued entirely at the local level beyond jurisdiction, without the approval of any higher ministry or the Directorate of Posts (noting "Source: None" on the letter).

Dismissing employees who have served for a long time abruptly, without providing a show-cause notice or a minimal opportunity for self-defense, is in clear violation of administrative and natural justice principles.

Despite the necessity of work, such sudden termination of workers directly violates Supreme Court Appellate Division precedents, International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, and Articles 15(kh), 20(1), 27, and 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Speakers at the rally further stated, "We did not receive any allowances or bonuses during festivals like Eid and Baishakh. Rather, the wages for those holiday periods were deducted. Moreover, recently our salaries were stopped for 5-7 months, with the excuse that there was no budget. Yet, we continued to serve the postal department with dedication and honesty. But today, despite adequate budget allocation, we have been unreasonably relieved from our jobs."

Association President Md. Iqbal Hossain and General Secretary Md. Rakibul Islam issued a warning, stating, "If this unjust decision is not amended within 24 hours, the decision-making authority will bear full responsibility for any administrative or service deadlock created in postal services."

Copies of the memorandum for prompt action have been forwarded to the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Minister of Land, Local Member of Parliament (Rajshahi-2), Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, Director General of the Directorate of Posts, Postmaster General (PMG), Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner (RMP), and relevant high-level offices including National Security Intelligence (NSI) and DGFI.

The 13 dismissed employees are—Daily-wage Postal Operators (9 persons): Md. Mominul Islam (Rajshahi GPO); Md. Shakilur Rahman (Rajshahi GPO); Sri Chaitanya Das (Rajshahi GPO); Mosa. Zahida Khatun (Rajshahi GPO); Mosa. Popy Khatun (Rajshahi GPO); Md. Masud Rana (Ghoramara Head Post Office); Mosa. Monjila Khatun (Ghoramara Head Post Office); Md. Shamiul Alim (Ghoramara Head Post Office); Khandaker Motiur Rahman (Rajshahi Court Town Sub Post Office); Daily-wage Packers (2 persons): Mosa. Latifa Khatun (Rajshahi GPO); Md. Harun Ar Rashid (Rajshahi Court Town Sub Post Office); and Daily-wage Nightguards (2 persons): Md. Hanif Sheikh (Padma Residential Town Sub Post Office); Chowdhury Abdul Kader (Rajshahi Cantonment Town Sub Post Office).

The human chain and protest rally was presided over by Md. Iqbal Hossain, President of the Bangladesh Daily Wage Employee Association, Rajshahi Division, and conducted and moderated by General Secretary Md. Rakibul Islam Rakib. Among those who spoke at the human chain and rally were Md. Shamiul Alim Shaon, dismissed daily-wage postal operator at Ghoramara Head Post Office, writer, development and rights activist; Khandaker Motiur Rahman Payel, dismissed daily-wage postal operator at Rajshahi Court Town Sub Post Office; and Tasen Ali, daily-wage employee of the Silk Development Board, among others.