Section 144 has been imposed in the Jamuna area, the official residence of the Chief Adviser, following clashes between police and protesting government employees. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali confirmed the development on Friday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, government employees from various ministries and departments gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, demanding the gazette publication and speedy implementation of the 9th national pay scale. After a brief rally, the protesters began marching toward Jamuna.
At around 11:00 am, police erected barricades near the road adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel to stop the procession. When protesters attempted to break through the barricades, a scuffle broke out, which soon escalated into clashes between the two sides.
To disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control, police used tear gas, water cannons and sound grenades. Although the protesters were initially dispersed, they regrouped after some time and again attempted to advance toward Jamuna, triggering fresh clashes at several points.
The situation remained tense along the Jamuna-bound road from around 11:30 am, with intermittent confrontations continuing. Police repeatedly deployed crowd-control measures to contain the unrest.
DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali rushed to the scene amid the escalating situation and later announced the imposition of Section 144 in the area to prevent further disorder and ensure public safety.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
