The 'Anti-Discrimination Employees’ Unity Forum' (ADEUF) on Saturday placed a five-point demand, including the immediate cancellation of all contractual appointments, to ensure a neutral administrative structure.

The forum’s president and former secretary ABM Abdus Sattar presented the demands at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club.

“To make the administration dynamic and hold the upcoming national election in a fair and neutral manner, all contractual appointments must be cancelled immediately,” he said.

Sattar, also the personal secretary of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said all officials and employees — both cadre and non-cadre — serving in the civil administration who have acted as cohorts of fascist forces or are involved in corruption must be removed from service and brought under legal action.

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“We would like to say with due respect and inform the public through you (the press) that unless the trusted loyalists, partisan individuals and beneficiaries of the Awami League are removed from the administration, it will not be possible to establish a transparent and accountable bureaucracy.

Besides, a professional and intellectually driven civil administration cannot be formed,” he said.

The other points in the forum’s five-point demand include appointing all officials and non-cadre employees who have faced discrimination under fascist rule to important positions in ministries, departments, and offices, including the post of secretary; granting due promotions and benefits to those still deprived; and bringing to justice those who have patronised corrupt and partisan officials in their promotions or postings.

The forum also warned of launching a movement with tougher programmes soon if the demands are not met without delay.

“If our demands are not fulfilled, we will announce tougher programmes, and controversial officials will be declared persona non grata,” Sattar said.

He also announced that the forum from now now on will regularly hold press conferences and issue statements to expose irregularities and corruption within the civil administration, along with disclosing detailed information about those involved.