Police fire sound grenades to disperse dismissed BGB protesters in Kakrail

Police used water cannons and fired sound grenades on Monday morning to disperse a protest by dismissed members of the former Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) — now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) — and their families at Kakrail intersection in the capital.

The protesters, who have been demonstrating in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh for over two weeks, were marching toward the residence of the Chief Adviser in Jamuna to press home their three-point demand including reinstatement into service and renaming the force back to "BDR."

Traffic in the area came to a standstill after the protesters blocked the road in front of Kakrail Mosque.

Witnesses said the march began around 11:15am from Shahbagh. Police initially tried to stop the group near Matsya Bhaban, but they pushed through a barricade set up by a team led by Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam.

As the protesters reached Kakrail intersection, police formed another blockade to prevent further advancement. When the demonstrators refused to retreat and began chanting slogans, law enforcement used water cannons and sound grenades to disperse them.