In Bangladesh, the Central Secretariat in Dhaka once again came to a standstill today as personnel of the paramilitary auxiliary force, ‘Bangladesh Ansar’ blockaded the complex, preventing any entry or exit. A private news agency in Bangladesh reported that the demonstration, which began after 12 pm, saw Ansar members positioning themselves in front of the Secretariat and its various gates, effectively sealing off the administration hub. Sunday is the first working day of the week in the country.

All five gates of the Secretariat remain blocked, leaving government officials and employees trapped inside. No one has been able to leave or enter the premises, exacerbating the situation for those caught within.

The Ansar forces have been protesting for the past two days, demanding the nationalisation of their jobs. They claim to have been subjected to prolonged discrimination and say that previous assurances to address their concerns have not been fulfilled. The protesters have vowed to continue their blockade until their demands are met, declaring that they will not allow anyone to exit or enter the Secretariat until then.

This protest follows a series of demonstrations that have taken place in front of the Secretariat after the fall of the Awami League government. News Agency reports say that disgruntled employees and workers from various sectors have been increasingly vocal about their grievances.