Large protests demanding the immediate implementation of the 9th National Pay Scale took place near Jamuna, the official residence of Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. Law enforcement used barricades, water cannons, and sound grenades to disperse the protesters as tensions rose. Protesters voiced their demands with slogans during the demonstration, as reported by the United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
One female protester expressed that their sole purpose for gathering at the venue was to push for the revision of the pay scale. Another protester, who was detained by police, mentioned joining the protest due to financial struggles in supporting his family with his current salary. Earlier in the day, protesters assembled at Shahbagh around 10:30 am local time, with police preventing their march towards Jamuna.
In a separate incident in December, officials and employees from various ministries and divisions at the Bangladesh Secretariat confined Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed inside his office, demanding various allowances. Employees, led by Badiul Kabir, confined Ahmed inside his office at the Ministry of Finance, insisting on the release of an official gazette announcing the benefits. Kabir emphasized that the employees would continue their protest until the government issues the necessary notification.
Bangladesh Secretariat employees had warned of a stronger movement from January 10 if the government did not issue a gazette notification on the pay commission by December. The employees conveyed this ultimatum in a memorandum to the financial advisor, as reported by Bangladesh’s media outlet BDNews24.
