Police removed protesters from the InterContinental intersection as demonstrations demanding implementation of the ninth national pay scale escalated toward the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna.

The protesters, marching under the banner of the Government Employees’ Rights Unity Council, attempted to move toward Jamuna from Shahbagh on Friday morning. Police repeatedly blocked their advance. Around 10:30am, demonstrators gathered at Shahbagh, causing traffic disruptions in surrounding areas.

As protesters ignored police requests to clear the road, law enforcement used water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. Despite resistance, a group of demonstrators managed to move closer to Jamuna and remained there briefly after 11:00am before being forced back.

By around 12:30pm, protesters regrouped at the InterContinental intersection. Several individuals were seen being taken away with injuries. Police again used sound grenades shortly after 1:00pm, forcing demonstrators to scatter toward Shahbagh and Banglamotor.

At approximately 1:15pm, police fully took control of the InterContinental intersection, after which vehicular movement on the main road resumed.

For security reasons, six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the Kakrail Mosque and InterContinental Hotel areas, according to BGB sources.

Protesters chanted slogans demanding immediate issuance of a gazette notification for the ninth pay scale, accusing the government of delaying the process despite completion of all formalities. One demonstrator, Borhan Uddin, an office assistant at the Department of Youth Development, claimed political objections were blocking the final approval.

Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge Md. Moniruzzaman said roads became impassable after government employees blocked Shahbagh intersection in the morning. When protesters refused to disperse, police took action, forcing them to relocate toward the InterContinental area.

Meanwhile, a separate sit-in has been ongoing since Thursday afternoon near Jamuna, where demonstrators are demanding an impartial investigation under the United Nations into the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi.