Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Police have used batons to disperse dismissed members of the force who lost their jobs over different complaints during the one and half decades of the Awami League government.
The incident occurred around 12:30pm on Thursday near the Secretariat when as the dismissed police personnel were attempting to meet with the chief advisor to demand the restoration of their jobs.
The protestors brought out a procession at the Jatiya Press Club and tried to take up positions near the Secretariat. Police used batons to disperse them and returned them to the Press Club area. Additional security measures have been taken near the south gate of the Secretariat following the incident.
“Some police constables who lost their jobs during the rule of the last government came to the Secretariat demanding the restoration of their jobs. They were driven away,” said Police Inspector Kaisar, who was on duty at the scene.
As he was being arrested, dismissed policeman Imran said the protesters were terminated from their jobs wrongfully during the previous government.
“We have been urging the current government to reinstate our jobs. We don’t know why they are arresting us today,” Imran said.
Besides Imran, two others - Nazim and Mainuddin - were arrested, a law enforcer said.
“They pounced on us. I was being taken as well, but somehow I managed to get away,” said Tariqul Islam, a protester who was beaten during the incident.
Protestor Mizanur Rahman said that they had been staging peaceful protests to get their jobs restored. “At least 10 of us were severely injured. Some were arrested. We want a proper solution to the incident,” he told bdnews24.com.
A team of police were seen dragging a young man outside the Press Club amid the chaos around 1:15pm. The man, a protestor, has yet to be identified.
After the change in government, police personnel dismissed during the Awami League’s rule were seen protesting on the street near the Police Headquarters on Aug 18 to demand the restoration of their jobs.
They claim that thousands of police personnel lost their jobs over the last 15 years for not following illegal orders, arguing for holiday approval, faced departmental action for mundane reasons, and were ensnared in falsified tests.
They demanded an executive order from the government to reinstate them.
When the inspector general of police assured them of fulfilling their demands, they withdrew their programmes. However, dismissed police personnel took to the streets again after their demands were not met.