Road in Jahangir Gate area reopens after 2-hour blockade by dismissed army officials

The road in the capital's Jahangir Gate area reopened after a two-hour blockade on Sunday.

Former armed forces members who had been dismissed or sent into compulsory retirement blocked the road and staged a protest starting at 11:15 am.

This caused severe traffic congestion on the road and in surrounding areas, with traffic coming to a complete halt on one side.

By 12:25 pm, limited traffic was allowed to flow from Mohakhali to Jahangir Gate. By 1:00 pm, the road was fully reopened to traffic. 

Sohojoddha, a platform of former armed forces officials, who were terminated or sent into forced retirement during the Awami League regime, began the sit-in programme before the Jahangir Gate around 8:00 am.

They took position on the street around 11:15 am and staged demonstrations.

The officials demanded that they be reinstated in their respective forces with due positions, salaries, allowances and other benefits. In failure to reinstate any of them, they have to be brought under regular pension facility and other benefits.

They also demanded that the legal structure and the unilateral trial system that were used to terminate hundreds of armed forces officials be reformed.

Later, a high-level armed forces delegation met a group of demonstrators.

Following the meeting, Naimul Islam, chief coordinator of Sohojoddha, said they received assurance from the armed forces about forming a council to hold discussions on the demands within five working days. Therefore, the demonstrators called off their blockade.