Tensions flared in Dhaka on Friday when throngs of public sector employees rallied near Muhammad Yunus’s official Jamuna House, calling for the immediate adoption of the 9th National Pay Scale amid economic strain. The gathering, kickstarting at Shahbagh around 10:30 AM, prompted a robust security response.
As marchers advanced, police lines held firm with barricades, eventually unleashing water cannons and sound grenades to scatter the determined crowd. Protesters persisted with fervent sloganeering, their grievances rooted in wages eroded by inflation.
Compelling accounts surfaced: A woman protester affirmed their exclusive focus on remuneration updates. From custody, a sole family earner decried the inadequacy of present pay for daily sustenance.
History repeated from December, when Secretariat workers cornered Salehuddin Ahmed in his office. Spearheaded by Badiul Kabir, they demanded formal allowances via gazette, standing their ground resolutely.
A December 3 ultimatum from Nizamuddin Ahmed had foreshadowed this, promising tougher measures from January 10 sans notification. Under Yunus’s leadership in transition, the protests spotlight critical labor issues, pressing for resolutions to sustain governmental stability and employee loyalty.