The police on Friday charged the jobseekers with baton when they tried to block the Shahbagh intersection demanding a raise in the entry-level age limit for government jobs to 35 and, thus, to implement the current government's election manifesto.
The protesters claimed that at least 10 of them were injured and two were detained in the attack.
On Friday afternoon, two organisations under the banner of ‘Chakuri Prottashi Juba Projanma Bangladesh’ (Job seeking youth generation, Bangladesh) and Bangladesh General Students Council blocked the Shahbagh intersection.
According to witnesses, the protesters blocked Shahbagh crossing from 4:15pm to 4:45pm. The police asked them to leave and they continued the blockade there ignoring the request.
Later at around 5:00pm, the police dispersed them charging baton.
The protesters said that the police attack their peaceful gathering without any provocation. ‘Our 10-12 fellows were injured, 2 of us were arrested by the police.’
They also said that they would continue their movements overcoming all obstacles until the demands are met.
Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge Moudut Hawlader said, ‘the agitators blocked Shahbagh intersection and caused suffering to the people. At first the police requested them not to block the road. The police removed them as they blocked the road.’
‘No one was arrested at that time,’ he added.
