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Published : 17 Oct 2025, 02:03 PM
Police have clashed with participants of last year's July Uprising near the Parliament's South Plaza, using batons, tear gas and sound grenades to clear the area after the protesters refused to leave.
The demonstrators had gathered in front of the stage for the signing ceremony of the July Charter on Friday, demanding state recognition, legal protection and rehabilitation for those injured during the movement that toppled the Awami League regime in August 2024.
Families of those killed in the uprising and injured protesters began demonstrating at the South Plaza as officials prepared for the signing ceremony.
The protesters, numbering in the hundreds, reportedly entered the Parliament premises by scaling its main gates in the morning before gathering in front of the stage.
When members of the security forces tried to prevent them from advancing further, the demonstrators sat on chairs reserved for guests and began chanting slogans.
They demanded that the July Charter include guarantees for the recognition, safety, and legal immunity of the families of the “martyrs” and “July fighters”.
Organisers tried unsuccessfully to calm the group and persuade them to leave peacefully.
Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, then went on stage and apologised to the protesters, pledging to amend the charter to include their demands.
“It is not only a matter of shame and sorrow but also of anger and sorrow that you had to come here in this way. On behalf of the commission, we apologise."
He added that the consensus panel had prepared the necessary amendments to the the fifth clause of the charter to reflect the demands raised by the representatives of the July fighters.
“This final version of the National Charter will be preserved as an official state document. The next government will act upon its commitments. We will make it clear that the government must take measures to implement this declaration. There is no disagreement on this between the parties and the Consensus Commission.”
Riaz then read out the revised text of Clause 5, saying: “This section recognises, promises, and commits to honouring the contributions of the July fighters -- ensuring state dignity, privileges, and legal protection and security.”
“This is not the final word. We will monitor the government’s actions. We will listen to you again in the future -- you can come, we will talk. The charter will be signed in the afternoon. We are making arrangements to meet your demands.”
He then urged the protesters to vacate the area ahead of Friday prayers.
Tensions rose again when Monir Haider, special assistant to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, attempted to speak but was interrupted by the protesters' angry chants.
Haider asked the protesters to cooperate with law enforcement and submit their demands in writing. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali and several commission members were seen at the scene.
When the protesters still refused to move, police used force to clear them from the plaza. Officers chased them out of the Parliament compound, beating several demonstrators with batons and firing tear gas and sound grenades.
Some protesters were seen being taken to hospital with injuries.
As police advanced, the protesters vandalised several vehicles outside the Parliament complex, set fire to tyres, wooden planks and small tents that had been erected for the event.
The demonstrators regrouped at Khamarbari and Asad Gate, pelting stones at police as clashes continued.
Police responded with more tear gas and sound grenades to push them back.
By around 2pm, police had taken full control of Manik Mia Avenue, where two groups of protesters had retreated -- one towards Aarong and another towards Khamarbari. Intermittent explosions from sound grenades could still be heard in the area.
Traffic on Manik Mia Avenue and Mirpur Road remained halted during the unrest.
The clashes unfolded about three hours before the scheduled signing ceremony of the July Charter, led by Yunus under the National Consensus Commission.
Yunus had earlier urged the nation to celebrate what he called a “historic moment of unity”.
However, the National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the youth leadership of the July Uprising, refused to attend, saying the charter lacked a clear legal basis for implementation.
Four left-leaning parties -- the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Socialist Party (BaSaD), BaSaD (Marxist), and Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) -- also announced they would not sign the document, citing alleged distortions of history and changes to the founding principles of the Constitution.
