The officials and employees of the capital market regulator Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) have been observing a strike since Thursday (March 6) as per the previous announcement as the commission led by Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maqsood has not resigned.
Earlier, the BSEC Officers Welfare Association announced the strike by holding an emergency press conference on Wednesday. Law enforcement officers are stationed inside the BSEC office to control the situation.
BSEC Executive Director Md. Mahabubul Alam said, “As per our demand, we have started the strike from Thursday as the commission led by BSEC Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maqsood has not resigned by Wednesday. Our strike will continue until the BSEC chairman and commissioners resign.”
A visit to the BSEC office on the ground showed that none of the chairman and commissioners had come till 10:30 am. However, BSEC officials and employees have come to the office on time. But, they are not doing any work. The desks of the officials were seen empty. Even no letters are being exchanged.
According to the announcement of the BSEC Officers Welfare Association, all the officials and employees are observing a work stoppage. They are spending time in the office discussing, talking, roaming, and chatting. In addition, they are inquiring about the medical treatment and physical condition of those injured in the lathicharge on Wednesday.
On behalf of the BSEC Officers Welfare Association, BSEC Executive Director Md. Mahabubul Alam said at a press conference on Wednesday, “There is frustration among the BSEC officials and employees with the current commission. One of the reasons for this is the bad behavior of the commissioners, the continuous show-cause of the officials in the light of the investigation of various companies, and the issuance of an order to send Executive Director Saifur Rahman to compulsory retirement without paying attention to the rules. In view of this, we made five demands to the BSEC Chairman and Commissioners. But, they did not accept the demands. Instead, they called members of the law enforcement agencies with false information and lathi-charged our officials. Six of our employees were injured in this. In this situation, we are not able to work with the commission led by BSEC Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maqsood. Therefore, we are demanding the resignation of the BSEC Chairman and Commissioners. If they do not resign, the entire commission’s officers and employees will observe a work stoppage program from Thursday.”
He also said, ”We are demanding from the government that qualified and experienced guardians be appointed here (BSEC). Just as experienced guardians have been given in Bangladesh Bank, we also want such guardians. How is it possible to work with guardians who do not know how to respect their own officers and employees? We have tolerated their misbehavior for a long time, and we will not do it anymore. If we have committed any crime, and if it is proven, then action should be taken according to the service rules. But instead of doing that, they have taken a decision to send an officer on compulsory retirement. We have said that this is not the right decision. But, they did not listen to it. Instead, they misbehaved with us.’’
Meanwhile, the BSEC Officers Welfare Association said in a message last night that the officers and employees of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) held a protest on Wednesday for their demands. The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Officers Welfare Association strongly protests the incident of lathicharge and attack by law enforcement members during the logical protest of the officers and employees without any solution to their demands. The fact that the officers and employees of the institution were subjected to lathicharge and attack at their workplace is a shameful chapter in the history of BSEC and Bangladesh.
