Days Before Bangladesh General Election, Clashes Erupt Outside Yunus’ Official Residence

Dhaka: Six days left before election day in Bangladesh, clashes broke out outside interim government head Muhammad Yunus’s house in the nation’s Capital.

Government employees demanding higher wages and implementation of the Ninth National Pay Scale confronted police outside Jamuna, the official residence of Chief Adviser Yunus.

According to reports in Bangladesh media, the protesters gathered at Shaheed Minar in the morning and marched towards Jamuna. They raised slogans, accusing the Yunus-headed administration of ignoring their livelihood concerns and seeking immediate publication of a government gazette based on the pay commission’s recommendations.

As protesters broke through police barricades and advanced towards the entrance of Yunus’ residence, police had to respond. They fired water cannons, tear gas and sound grenades, resorted to lathi charges in an effort to disperse the crowd.

Around 15 people were reportedly injured as clashes intensified.

Pictures and videos shared on social media showed a large crowd holding placards and shouting slogans, police trying to quell the protests with water cannons.

Tensions escalated at one point when Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam questioned a protester whether they had come to Jamuna to sabotage the election, reported NDTV.

“We are remaining alert so that law and order does not deteriorate. We are talking to the protesters so that they move elsewhere,” Alam said.

There was a heavy deployment of security forces in the area around Jamuna as authorities monitoring the situation closely.

General election will be held on February 12, the first since deadly violence shook the country in August 2024, forcing Sheikh Hasina to resign as Prime Minister and flee to India.