Dismissed members of Bangladesh’s armed forces launched a demonstration in front of the National Press Club on Sunday morning, demanding job reinstatement and other benefits. Organised under the banner of Bangladesh Comrade Platform (BCP), protesters warned they would march toward Dhaka Cantonment’s Jahangir Gate if their demands went unheeded.
The movement gained new urgency following Saturday’s arrest of BCP chief coordinator Naeemul Islam, a dismissed soldier now included in their demands for release. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) stated Naeemul had been discharged eight years earlier for allegedly “planning major sabotage” and was rearrested on the same charges.
Protesters outlined multiple demands including full back-pay with allowances from their termination dates, complete pension benefits if reinstatement proves impossible, and reforms to military justice procedures, including constitutional amendments to Article 45. They emphasised years of suffering under alleged injustice, discrimination and unilateral dismissals, insisting the time had come for proper redress.
The gathering marked an escalation in their campaign, with participants vowing continued protests until achieving what they called basic employment justice. Security personnel maintained watch as the demonstration proceeded without incident Sunday morning.