For two hours on Sunday, traffic at Jahangir Gate in the capital came to a standstill as former armed forces members, dismissed or forced into retirement, took to the streets to demand justice.
The protesters, under the banner of “Shahojoddha,” occupied the area from 11:15am, creating widespread gridlock that left commuters stranded and sparked frustrations.
They demanded the immediate reinstatement of their jobs with full back pay and benefits.
The protesters said they want pension benefits and government support if reinstatement is not feasible.
They claimed reforms to the disciplinary processes unjustly led to their dismissal.
The protesters initially staged a sit-in before blocking the road, halting vehicular movement through Jahangir Gate – a vital artery connecting Mohakhali, Banani, Tejgaon and surrounding areas.
The blockade had a ripple effect on traffic, creating chaos across the city.
Commuters heading to work or the airport were stuck in lengthy tailbacks, while verbal altercations and scuffles broke out between frustrated drivers and the protesters.
In some cases, protesters allowed vehicles to pass after heated confrontations.
By 12:25pm, limited traffic resumed after a delegation of the protesters met with high-ranking armed forces officials.
A representative of the protesters, Naimul Islam, announced that the authorities assured them of forming a review panel within five working days to address their grievances.
Following this assurance, the protesters shifted to the side of the road, and by 1pm, traffic flow returned to normal.
