United News of Bangladesh

Tension flared up near Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser, on Friday as protesters staged demonstrations, demanding the immediate implementation of the 9th national pay scale. Mohammad Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station, said a protest procession of government employees reached Shahbagh intersection around 11:00 am after starting from Shaheed Minar. “When the procession advanced towards Jamuna and reached Hotel InterContinental crossing, police attempted to stop it. As the protesters crossed the barricades and gathered near Jamuna, police used teargas  shells and water cannons around 12:00 noon to bring the situation under control,” he added. Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sajjat Ali visited the area to monitor the situation and ensure there were no untoward incidents. Protesters chanted slogans pressing their demands during the demonstration. One female protester said they had gathered solely to press for the pay scale revision and had no other intentions. Another protester, who was detained by police, said he was the only earning member of his family and could no longer support them on his current salary, which was why he had joined the protest. The protesting government employees said that despite repeated assurances, the government has yet to publish the gazette of the 9th pay scale.  They warned that if the gazette is not issued within the day, they will continue their movement and refuse to return home. Meanwhile, six platoons of BGB troops have been deployed near Kakrail Mosque, Hotel InterContinental areas to safeguard Jamuna.

Railway employees in Natore blocked railway tracks on Thursday demanding the immediate implementation of the ninth pay scale. The demonstration began around 10 am at the Natore Railway Station platform where employees of the Railway Engineering Department held a rally. Later, the protesters sat on the tracks, halting train services. Inter-city Chilahati Express bound for Dhaka from Chilahati, was stranded at the station due to the blockade. No decision yet on implementing proposed pay scale: Energy Adviser The protesters vacated the tracks after half an hour, allowing normal train operations to resume. During the protest, Mizanur Rahman, central president of the Railway Engineering Department Employees Association along with financial secretary Robiul Islam and other leaders, addressed the gathering and urged the government to implement the ninth pay scale without delay.