Dismissed and forcibly retired members of the armed forces staged a protest in front of Dhaka Cantonment's Shaheed Jahangir Gate on Sunday, demanding reinstatement, pension benefits, and reform of the judicial system that led to their dismissal.
Under the banner of "Sahajodha," the platform representing these dismissed personnel, the protesters gathered around 11am.
They displayed a banner saying: “Army reform is in progress, sorry for the temporary inconvenience,” and chanted slogans such as "We Want Justice."
The demonstration caused severe traffic congestion, with vehicles backed up nearly to Banani intersection. Commuters, including school and office-goers, faced significant delays due to the disruption.
The protestors presented three key demands including full reinstatement to service with all salaries, allowances, and benefits from the time of dismissal; if reinstatement is not possible, they should be provided with pensions and full government benefits; and reform of the judicial system and legal framework that allegedly facilitated the one-sided dismissal of hundreds of armed forces personnel.
