Water cannon disperses Shahbagh procession amid heavy security

The Bangladesh Inter-University Employees Federation held a grand rally at the Central Shaheed Minar to press for their seven-point demands, including a dearness allowance but faced a water cannon dispersal in Shahbagh amid tight police security. 

Following the rally on Friday afternoon, protesters took out a procession with a memorandum.

At around 1pm, as the procession reached the front of Shahbagh Police Station, law enforcement intervened, obstructing their march. To disperse the demonstrators at the Shahbagh intersection, police deployed water cannons.

Following the incident, security measures in and around Shahbagh were significantly tightened.

At 2:40pm, a field visit revealed that police had barricaded both sides of the road leading to the chief adviser’s residence adjacent to Hotel Intercontinental on Minto Road.

Regarding the incident, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Mansur told the media: "The protesters gathered before the Jummah prayers. They have now submitted their memorandum and left. There is no further unrest."

Earlier, on February 3, Federation Chairman Md Selim Mia announced this rally during a press conference at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club.

The Federation’s Seven-Point Demands:

1. Implementation of a non-discriminatory pay scale: A pay commission to introduce the 9th pay scale, ensuring the elimination of salary discrepancies should be formed, reducing the number of salary grades, and maintaining uniformity in pay scales. Representatives from employees in grades 11-20 should be included in the pay commission. A minimum dearness allowance of Tk6,000 should be provided during the interim period.
2. Regularization of annual salary increments: Employees who have reached the final stage of their salary grade must receive regular annual pay increments.
   
   
3. Implementation of a Unified Recruitment and Promotion Policy: A non-discriminatory and standardized recruitment and promotion policy should be established. The highest possible promotion policies across all public universities should be reviewed and implemented. Block posts should be regularized ensuring 100% promotions.
   
   
4. Extension of retirement age: The maximum retirement age should be extended to 65 years, similar to that of university teachers. Employee representatives from respective basic organizations must be included in committees concerning recruitment and other employment issues in public, autonomous, and semi-autonomous universities.
   
   
5. Reassessment of allowances: Allowances must be revised under rising market prices and living costs. Employees in grades 11-20 should either receive rationing benefits or be provided with essential commodities at fair prices through government support.
   
   
6. Introduction of pension in autonomous institutions: Pension schemes should replace the current gratuity system for employees of autonomous institutions. The gratuity rate should be increased from 90% to 100%. The pension gratuity value should be set at Tk500 per Tk1 equivalent.
   
   
7. Access to housing loans for employees: The government has approved a 4% housing loan based on pensions and gratuities via Sonali Bank. However, under the current policy, general employees cannot avail of this benefit. The policy must be revised to ensure all employees have access to this facility.