Police use sound grenades, water cannons, and tear gas shells to disperse government employees marching towards the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital demanding the implementation of the ninth pay scale on Friday. — FE Photo Sound-grenade and teargas blasts rocked Dhaka's heartland Shahbagh area Friday as police quelled troubles of fresh marches toward the CA's residence Jamuna.
In one incident, the government employees' tried to reach Jamuna in support of their demand for immediate implementation of the ninth pay scale and in another incident, Inqilab Mancha activists demanded investigation into the murder of foHadi under UN supervision. However, police used batons, hurled sound granades and tear gas to disperse the deminstrators.
Several people were injured as police used batons, sound grenades and teargas to disperse protesters in the capital's Shahbagh area, who were marching toward the Chief Adviser's residence at Jamuna to press home their demands.
The demonstrations were fuelled by government employees' demand for immediate implementation of the 9th pay scale and calls for justice in the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, witnesses said.
The trouble erupted around 4:00pm when leaders and activists of the Mancha, demanding a United Nations-led investigation into Hadi's killing, marched towards Jamuna, breaking police barricades near a five-star hotel.
As police personnel intervened to maintain order, the protesters became agitated and attempted to advance further in the highly secured area. To clear the road for traffic and disperse the crowd, police deployed water cannons, teargas shells and sound grenades.
In retaliation, protesters hurled bricks and bottles at the police, leaving several people injured during a chase and counter-chase that lasted nearly an hour.
The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for treatment. Those injured include Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, DUCSU leader FatemaTasnim Zuma, RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, and JnUCSU leader ShantaAkter.
Following the clashes, protesters marched from the Intercontinental intersection to Shahbagh around 4:45pm and staged a sit-in, blocking the area by 5:30 pm and causing severe traffic congestion.
Participants in the blockade included NasiruddinPatwari, 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-8, Mahiuddin Roni, an independent candidate for Dhaka-18, several DUCSU leaders, and a large number of demonstrators.
The protesters expressed anger at the interim government over police action, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi's killing. As of 8:00pm, they were still occupying the area, according to witnesses.
Later, additional law enforcement personnel, including members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were deployed to prevent further unrest.
Earlier in the day, government employees had held a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar demanding immediate implementation of the 9th pay scale and then began marching toward Jamuna. Police initially blocked them near the National Museum using barricades.
Undeterred, the demonstrators broke through and continued marching. Despite water cannons being deployed, they reached near the Intercontinental hotel, bypassed another barricade, and staged a sit-in in front of Jamuna.
Police again used water cannons and sound grenades around 11:45am to disperse the crowd.
The protesters were demanding the immediate publication and implementation of the 9th pay scale.
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