Uprising injured protesters leave Shahbagh after announcing long march

People injured during the July-August mass uprising have left the Shahbagh intersection four hours after blocking the road following their announcement of a long march.

However, they have yet to set a date for their programme.

A movement leader said it will be decided after discussions with all members.

The protesters began their blockade at around 2:30pm on Monday to press their demands and cleared the road by 6:45pm.

The vehicles that had been stuck in the long traffic jam were able to move again.

Md Arman, one of the leaders of the protest who claims to have been injured during the uprising, said: "We will hold the long march for three demands, and all the injured will participate.

Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Alam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Zone said, “The injured protesters have left after declaring a long march. Traffic is now back to normal.”

Although vehicles were able to move on alternative routes, commuters on this road endured considerable inconvenience.

Due to the closure of this important road, traffic pressure increased on other routes, causing long traffic jams. Commuters and office-goers returning home experienced significant distress.

Arafat Sani, who also claims to have been injured during the uprising, told bdnews24.com, "The injured are being categorised into three or four categories; two of these will receive allowances, but the others will not, and this is unfair.

“We demand that all injured be categorised into two groups to ensure proper treatment. When we spoke to the advisors, they also said the same.”

He added, “We are also demanding the assurance of security for the injured, along with the activation of a hotline for continuous communication with them."

Meanwhile, there have been allegations that the injured protesters mistreated journalists during the road blockade.

Mahmud Hasan, a staff correspondent from the private television station NEWS24, told bdnews24.com: "When we tried to collect footage and information about the public suffering, the injured protesters threatened us."

Bulbul, a correspondent from the online news portal Barta24, identified with a single name, said: "When we tried to collect footage and information about the public distress, one of the injured protesters grabbed my collar.

“We will not cover their programme."

In response to these incidents, movement leader Arman told bdnews24.com: "We have apologised to the media personnel for the unpleasant events."