Bangladesh crisis: Protesters near Yunus’ residence use sonic grenades and tear gas

Massive protests broke out outside the Jamuna residence of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday as government employees staged demonstrations demanding immediate implementation of the ninth national wage scale. The protests triggered massive security deployments and police operations in parts of the capital Dhaka.There was tension near Jamuna as protesters started from Shaheed Minar, broke through police barricades and tried to move towards their residences.

Police used water cannons, tear gas shells and sonic grenades to disperse the crowd, while six platoons of Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB) were deployed to secure areas around the Kakral Mosque and the Intercontinental Hotel, Dhaka Tribune reported. According to Md Moniruzzaman, in-charge of Shahbagh police station, government employees started gathering in Shahbagh around 10:30 am and blocked the intersection, paralyzing traffic on surrounding roads. Despite repeated demands to clear the road, protesters refused to disperse.“When the procession advanced towards Jamuna and reached the Intercontinental Hotel intersection, the police tried to stop them. When the protesters crossed the barricades and gathered near Jamuna, the police used tear gas and water cannon to control the situation around 12 noon,” Moniruzzaman said.Demonstrating under the banner of Sarkari Karmachari Dabi Adai Oikya Parishad (Solidarity Committee for Demand Realization of Government Employees), the protesters chanted slogans such as “No compromise, only struggle”, “Not offices but streets” and “Implement wage scales immediately”. Some protesters were injured and removed from the InterContinental Hotel intersection by police.Ignoring the roadblocks at Shahbagh, the protesters marched towards Jamuna around 11.30 am and staged a brief sit-in near their residence. Police later used water cannon, tear gas and sonic grenades to disperse them.Around 12:30 p.m., most demonstrators regrouped at the InterContinental Hotel intersection, where police took further action. Traffic on the Banglamotor-Shahbagh road was disrupted for several hours and was not resumed until 1:15 pm, United News Bangladesh reported. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) chief SM Sajjat ​​Ali went to the area to monitor the situation, while deputy commissioner of police (Ramna district) Masood Alam said the police were working to prevent deterioration of law and order.“We remain vigilant to avoid deterioration of law and order. We are talking to the protesters so that they can move to other places,” Masoud Alam said.Several protesters said they had gathered only to press for changes in pay standards and had no other intention. One detained protester said he was the only earning member of his family and could no longer support them on his current salary.Another protester, Borhan Uddin, an office assistant in the youth development ministry, said the delay was unjustified.“The government has completed all procedures for the ninth pay scale but is yet to issue a gazette notification. This has been our long-standing demand. We were informed that the gazette was delayed due to opposition from political parties. We will not accept this.”The protesting employees warned that they would continue their march and refuse to go home if the gazette for the ninth-grade pay scale was not issued that day.Meanwhile, another sit-in has taken place near Jamuna, where protests have been ongoing since Thursday afternoon on the Inqilab Moncho platform demanding a UN-led impartial investigation into the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman bin Hadi.Government employees said the pay commission has submitted its report and the new pay scale can be implemented immediately through a gazette notification. They also expressed concern that implementation could be further delayed once an elected government takes office.Security remained tight around the chief adviser’s official residence, with police setting up roadblocks near the InterContinental Hotel and on adjoining roads until late afternoon.