Police on Monday fired water cannons and sound grenades to disperse sacked members of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) who were protesting near the Kakrail Mosque intersection in the capital, demanding three points including reinstatement and other concessions.
The clash erupted around 12:15 pm when the protesters - who had earlier marched from Shahbagh - refused to leave the area despite repeated warnings from law enforcement.
According to the police and eyewitness, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned any kind of meeting, rally, mass gathering, and procession in the government residence building 'Jamuna' of the Chief Advisor and its surrounding areas as well as the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Therefore, the agitating protesters move towards the CA residence Jamuna. That time, the police called on the dismissed BDR members who had taken up positions at the Kakrail Mosque intersection to leave.
When they did not respond to that call, the police fired water cannons and at least six sound grenades at around 12:15pm. Several protesters, including the police, were injured during this. Later, the police slowly redirected the protesters towards the Matsya Bhaban area, they said.
Dismissed BDR members three points demand are -- reinstatement of dismissed BDR personnel with compensation, cancellation of certain clauses of the independent inquiry commission formed after the 2009 Peelkhana massacre, and restoration of the BDR name and release of jailed members.
An ex-BDR member said that the police fired water cannons, lobbed tear gas and charged baton during their march. Several of them were injured.
The agitated ex-BDR members said that they want those who have been unjustly imprisoned to be released. Many have not been released even after their sentences have ended. Those who are still of working age should be given their jobs back with due respect. Otherwise, they will not withdraw from the movement until their demands are met.
They also alleged that the dictator Sheikh Hasina, along with some of the heads of the army, drew the blueprint for this massacre. Through this massacre, the army has been destroyed on one hand, and the BDR has been stripped off its glory on the other. Let there be a fair trial as to why the Peelkhana massacre happened and let those behind it be brought out before the nation.
