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Agitating former members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who were sacked from their jobs, had issued an ultimatum to march towards Yamuna and surround the Chief Adviser’s residence by noon on Tuesday (June 24) if their demands were not met. However, following an invitation from the Home Adviser for a meeting, the group has temporarily suspended their planned march and sent a delegation to the Secretariat for talks.
Farhad Hossain, a protesting BDR member, confirmed that the march has been put on hold pending the outcome of the meeting. He stated that the group would withdraw their protest if the discussions with the Home Adviser prove fruitful. However, if their demands are not addressed, the agitation will continue.
On Tuesday, thousands of BDR members, who have been protesting for the past three days in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh, were seen staging a sit-in with a stage set up to press for their three-point demands. The BDR Welfare Council had announced the march and encirclement of the Chief Adviser’s residence under their banner.
Around 11:30 AM, Ramna Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ibne Mizan arrived at the protest site and informed the agitators about the Home Adviser’s invitation for a meeting. A 10-member delegation, led by BDR Welfare Council President Foyzul Alam, was then transported to the Secretariat in a police vehicle. The delegation includes Subedar Fakruddin, Touhid, Habildar Moniruzzaman, Habildar Mahbub, Delwar, Abu Saeed, Reza Mamun, Nazmul, and Ishak.
Farhad Hossain told Dhaka Post, “A 10-member delegation is heading to the Secretariat following the Home Adviser’s call. We will maintain a peaceful sit-in at Shahbagh during the meeting. The next course of action will depend on the outcome of the discussions.”
The BDR members’ three main demands are:
- Reinstatement of all sacked and affected BDR members, including the 76th batch, with full state benefits and compensation.
- Conversion of the conditional investigation committee formed after the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy into a fully independent commission, removal of restrictive clauses in its mandate, identification of real culprits, and immediate release of innocent BDR members imprisoned for nearly 16 years based on false testimonies.
- Rehabilitation of unjustly sacked patriotic army officers and restoration of the name “Bangladesh Rifles” (BDR) to honor its historical legacy.
Farhad Hossain added that over the past nine months, the group has submitted memorandums to various government offices, including the Chief Adviser and Home Adviser, but no progress has been made. He warned that if their demands are not met, they will continue their protests on the streets until their grievances are addressed.
AI/MR
