Police Use Water Cannons and Sound Grenades to Halt Protest Toward Chief Adviser’s Residence
DHAKA, Feb 6, 2026 – Tensions flared in the capital on Friday morning as government employees, demanding the implementation of the 9th Pay Scale, were met with heavy police intervention while attempting to march toward "Jamuna," the official residence of the Chief Adviser.
Clashes at Shahbagh and InterContinental Intersection
The protest, organized under the banner of the Government Employees' Rights Realization Unified Council, began around 10:30 AM at the Shahbagh intersection.
As the demonstrators attempted to advance toward the Chief Adviser’s residence, law enforcement personnel established multiple layers of cordons to halt their progress.
Despite repeated warnings to disperse, the protesters pushed forward, leading the police to deploy:
Water cannons
Sound grenades
Tear gas canisters
By 11:00 AM, the situation escalated as police forcefully cleared the area in front of Jamuna. Several protesters were reportedly injured during the scuffle and were seen being carried away for medical assistance.
Traffic Disruption and Standstill
As of 1:00 PM, a large group of protesters remained stationed near the Hotel InterContinental intersection, effectively blocking the road from Banglamotor to Shahbagh. Police have placed heavy barricades in the area to prevent further movement toward the high-security zone.
Protesters chanted slogans such as "Compromise or Struggle? Struggle, Struggle!" and "No Pay Scale, No Return," vowing to remain on the streets until their demands are met.
Demands for the 9th Pay Scale
Borhan Uddin, an office assistant from the Department of Youth Development, expressed the group’s frustration, alleging that the government is stalling the official notification (gazette) for the 9th Pay Scale.
"All procedures for the new pay scale have been completed, yet the government refuses to issue the notification," Uddin stated. "We have heard that a specific political party is opposing this, but we will not accept any further delays."
Police Statement
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station, Md. Moniruzzaman, confirmed that the intervention was necessary to restore public order.
He noted that the blockade at Shahbagh caused significant traffic gridlock in the surrounding areas. According to the OC, the police took action only after the demonstrators refused requests to clear the roads voluntarily.
Ongoing Sit-ins at Jamuna
In a separate development, a group known as the "Inqilab Mancha" has been maintaining a sit-in in front of Jamuna since Thursday afternoon. They are demanding an independent UN-led investigation into the death of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
