Traffic at a standstill near Press Club amid Ansar protest

We only have one demand, and that is nationalisation, says an Ansar member demonstrating near the Press Club

Ansar personnel have taken to the streets for a fourth consecutive day, demanding the nationalisation of their jobs.

Police have blocked the Topkhana Road leading towards the foreign ministry due to the demonstration in front of the press club.

Thousands of Ansar members held a rally in front of the National Press Club around 8am on Sunday.

Ansar commander Shahabuddin told bdnews24.com: “We have a one-point demand…that is the nationalisation of Ansar jobs. Our rightful demand was not accepted by the previous government. So, we have begun a movement with the same demand to the interim government.”

The Ansar members demonstrated while wearing their uniforms and holding the national flag.

Salim, one of the Ansars protesting in front of the press club premises, said: “When the dictatorial government fell, when the RAB and police went in hiding, we were on the streets providing security to the people. Now we are being neglected. Our reasonable demands are not being heeded.”

“We will not leave the streets until our demands are met… that is our resolve.”

The protesting Ansar members have been taking to the streets at different places every day since they blocked Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection in the late hours of Thursday demanding the nationalisation of their jobs.

On Sunday, Ansar members in charge of different institutions paused their work to join the programme.

Md Siddikar Rahman, an Ansar member who joined the protests from the Uttara Metro Rail Station told bdnews24.com: "We only have one demand, and that is nationalisation. We will not leave the streets until our jobs are nationalised."

Md Qayyum Hossain, a Dhaka Medical College unit Ansar protesting at the Shikkhabhaban area said: "The movement will continue until our demands are met. We only have one demand, and that is nationalisation. We have been on the road since the morning and have given an ultimatum to the government until Aug 30. If our demand is not met, we will step up our protests.”

Ashadul Islam, an Ansar member of Narsingdi’s Khan Company unit, told bdnews24.com: "Will remain on the streets until our demands are met. We have given an ultimatum to the government from Aug 25 to Aug 30. We will step up our protests if these demands are not met."

Ansar members have started coming to Dhaka from all over the country since Saturday night, said Ashadul.

Meanwhile, commuters are suffering due to the Ansar programmes. Severe traffic congestion has been reported on several roads including Purana Paltan, Bijoynagar, Gulistan, and Segunbagicha.