Police use sound grenades, water cannon to disperse outsourcing workers

The police fired water cannons at the workers of the Bangladesh Outsourcing Employees Welfare Council who blocked the road in front of the Press Club demanding permanent employment. Later, five rounds of sound grenades were fired.

The police were seen taking action against the protesters after 5:15 pm on Saturday.

In this regard, Ramna Zone DC Masud Alam informed, the outsourcing workers took up position at the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning. Later, after noon, they sat on the road in front of the National Press Club and protested for their demands. Even after we gave them time, they did not leave the road. Later, water cannons were fired to disperse them. And some of the disorderly people were detained.

Earlier, at 5 pm, it was seen that the police were ready with two water cannons along with more than a hundred members. On the other hand, more than five hundred outsourcing workers were stationed on the road in front of the Press Club.

At the scene, Sardar Bulbul Ahmed, the patrol inspector of Shahbagh police station in Ramna zone, repeatedly requested the protesters to leave the road through the microphone. He said, "Please leave the road. You have caused public suffering. Traffic has stopped. If you do not leave the road, we will be forced to take action."

At this time, the protesters became agitated and said, "We will not leave the road until our demands are met. If necessary, we will give our lives today, but we will not return home without fulfilling our demands."

The police then dispersed the workers of the Bangladesh Outsourcing Employees Welfare Council, who had been blocking the road in front of the National Press Club for almost two hours, by throwing water cannons and sound grenades.