Bangladesh erupts in protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza
Students, leaders and activists of different political parties and common people of Bangladesh have started demonstrations at various points in solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza.
At some places, the protesters formed human chain and some groups held protest processions and rallies, demanding immediate stop of the ongoing genocide and mass destruction in Gaza.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Yesterday, Bangladeshi student leaders have called for a nationwide 'No Work, No School' campaign for today.
Several protest marches were held at different locations near the US Embassy in Dhaka today, condemning Israel's brutal attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The protests began around 11:00am today, reports Prothom Alo.
Around 1:45pm, a group of students from United International University were staging a demonstration in front of the footbridge opposite the US Embassy. They were expressing outrage over Israel's barbaric assaults on Gaza.
During the protest, the demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine," "Trump er dui gale, juta maro taley taley" [Slap Trump with a shoe, both cheeks in rhythm] and "Who are we? Who are you? Palestine, Palestine."
Earlier around 11:30am, a group of youths brought out a protest march in the US Embassy area in Gulshan. They took position on the highway in front of the embassy, halting traffic. Police personnel were seen in front of the procession to maintain order.
Since the morning, students of Presidency University, University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS), and Bangladesh Navy College, Dhaka, also gathered and took position on the highway in front of the embassy.
Police officers were stationed in front of the demonstrations to control the situation.
From early morning, members of the armed forces have also been deployed in front of the US Embassy. They formed a human barricade in the area and have been searching people passing through the vicinity.
The protest programmes include strikes in educational institutions and workplaces and demonstrations in Dhaka and other cities.
Under the campaign, no classes and examinations were held at Dhaka University and university offices were closed from 9:00am to 11:00am today.
Students and common people including children thronged in front of TSC on DU campus and started demonstration. They chanted slogan against the aggression by the Israel force.
Many were seen carrying Palestine flags.
Talking to reporters, one of the protesters said, "We took to the streets as world leaders forget Palestine people. We want freedom of the Palestinian people and trial of the Israel leaders for war crimes."
Teachers and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) formed a human chain on the campus, with a demand to free the Palestine and stop genocide there.
In line with the global strike, Brac University students held a protest rally in front of the university, holding placards and banners to stop brutality in Gaza.
Talking to reporters, a female student of the university said they took to the street in solidarity with the Gaza people as they are being killed brutally there.
Students of different private universities and general people brought out protest procession in Bashundhara Residential Area and Bhatara areas while Students of Dhaka Medical College and many other institutions gathered at Central Shaheed Minar.
Students of University of Asia Pacific held a human chain in front of the university.
The protesters chanted slogans "Free, Free Palestine" "Stop Genocide in Gaza"
At some places, the protesters were seen carrying effigies of the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Employees of many privately run institutions also brought out process at different points including Science Lab, Bosila and Uttara areas.
Many were heading towards Central Shaheed Minar where several organisations scheduled their programmes throughout the days.
Without any institutional banners, many students from schools, colleges and universities, carrying Palestinian flags, joined the protesters across the capital.
Jahangirnagar University has suspended academic activities as part of the global student movement titled "The World Stops for Gaza", condemning the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In support of the movement, the university halted all administrative activities for two hours -- from 10:00am to 12:00pm -- today.
In addition, the university postponed all academic activities, including classes and exams, scheduled for tomorrow.
The decision was announced in an official notice issued by JU Registrar ABM Azizur Rahman last night.
JU's Director of Public Relations Mohammad Mohiuddin confirmed the observance of the two-hour suspension, saying that it was carried out according to the declared programme.
Many educational institutions, including North South University, East West University, across the country are also participating in the protest through holding processions and human chains.
Additional police members have been deployed to ensure security at the diplomatic zone in Gulshan and Baridhara areas.
Meanwhile, teachers and students of Jagannath University (JnU) held protest rallies and human chains today condemning Israeli attacks in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protests called for a global boycott of Israeli products and urged the Muslim world to unite against Israeli aggression.
Speakers from various student and teacher groups criticised the silence of Islamic nations and international bodies. The demonstrations ended with vows to resist oppression, promote awareness, and sever ties with supporters of Israel's actions
.
Chattogram
People from all walks of life in Chattogram protested against the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza. Students from Chittagong Medical College initiated a protest procession from the academic building around 11:00am, marching across the college campus. A brief rally was held afterward, where speakers urged global solidarity with the people of Gaza and called for strong action against Israeli leadership for their role in the genocide.
Additionally, students from Chittagong College, Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, Government Commerce College, and Hazera Taju College also organised protest processions on their campuses, condemning Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Narsingdi
Thousands of students from various schools and colleges held a protest rally on Dhaka-Sylhet highway for about an hour today, calling for a boycott of Israeli products and punishment for Israel.
They displayed anti-Israel banners and posters. Along with students, activists from several Islamic political parties also joined the rally, carrying their party banners.
Cumilla
Thousands of students, political party leaders, activists, and local people staged protests at different points to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. They gathered at Pubali Chattora Kandirpar area, forming human chains and holding processions.
Chandpur
In Chandpur, people from all walks of life, including students, held a protest rally at 10:30am with thousands of students marching from Hasan Ali High School and parading through the city's main roads.
Students from Chandpur Government Medical College and Chandpur Nursing Institute also staged a rally at 250-bed Chandpur Government General Hospital.
Pabna
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organised a rally on Abdul Hamid Road, the main street in Pabna town this morning to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Rajshahi
Students, teachers, and staff of Rajshahi University (RU) held a solidarity rally in support of the people of Palestine. The rally began around 11:00am on the university's Paris Road and continued until noon. Organised by various student and teacher groups, the protest attracted a large crowd chanting slogans condemning the Israeli attacks.
Participants carried Palestinian flags and banners, calling for an immediate end to what they described as genocide. They also displayed images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with messages criticising their roles in the ongoing conflict.
Patuakhali
Thousands of people from all walks of life staged a protest rally and demonstration in Patuakhali, condemning the ongoing brutal attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza and demanding an end to the aggression and recognition of a free Palestine.
Men, women, and children joined the protest, which began around 10:00am at Jhautola, near the local Circuit House. The demonstrators carried banners expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and calling for an end to Israeli atrocities.
Leaders and activists from different political parties, professionals, students from various educational institutions -- including many female students and children -- participated in the rally, which organisers said drew a crowd of at least 5,000 people.
Narayanganj
Around 10:00am, demonstrators began gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar in Chashara, in small processions. They later took to the streets in protest.
As hundreds of people occupied the road in front of the Bijoy Stambho (Victory Monument), traffic movement on several key roads in the city was severely disrupted. Protesters remained on the streets until around 1:30pm, said witnesses.
Bandarban
A protest rally took place in Bandarban's central bus terminal. Later, a protest gathering was held in front of Bandarban Press Club.
Speakers at the rally called for strong international intervention to immediately stop this genocide.
The protest rally saw participation from students, members of civil society, social organisations, and people from various walks of life. Carrying festoons, banners, and placards, the demonstrators protested with slogans such as "Free Palestine," "Stop Genocide," and "Al-Aqsa is Our Pride."
Gazipur
A protest march was held in the Chandana Chowrasta area of Gazipur this afternoon.
The march circled various roads in Gazipur.
Protesters in the rally strongly condemned the massacre in Gaza, Palestine, and expressed concern over the silence of various Muslim countries on the incident.
Cox's Bazar
A protest march began around noon from Shaheed Daulat Maidan in front of Cox's Bazar Public Library and proceeded through Holiday intersection, Laboni, and ended at Kolatoli.
Sylhet
Thousands of people from all walks of life joined a protest at the Central Saheed Minar area in Sylhet at 3:00pm.
During the protest, they demanded that Israel stop the genocide in Palestine.
Tangail
Students of Alokito Hridoy School in Tangail observed a class and exam boycott, expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza.
The demonstration was held on the school premises from 9:20am to 1:00pm.
Children displayed handmade banners and posters bearing messages such as "The World for Gaza," "Stop War," and "Stop Genocide."
Bogura
Thousands of students and people, under the banner of several religious groups, organisations, and business entities staged a large protest rally in Bogura from morning to afternoon, condemning the attacks on Palestinians and demanding a boycott of Israeli products.
During the rally, protesters chanted slogans denouncing the ongoing genocide in Palestine and called for a boycott of Israeli goods.
In Gazipur, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, and Bogura, sections of protesters were also seen vandalising several establishments of multinational companies, tearing down billboards and banners, and emptying out bottles of soft drinks on to the road.
The countrywide programme followed a global call to action by Palestinian activists, urging schools, universities, offices, and courts to shut down simultaneously to demand an immediate end to the violence.
In response, students from dozens of institutions across the country yesterday announced the suspension of academic activities in protest against the brutality on the Gaza people. Dhaka University (DU) and Rajshahi University (RU) authorities officially backed the strike.
Since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza -- a 365-square-kilometre enclave of 2.4 million people -- on October 7, 2023, at least 50,695 Palestinians have been killed and 115,338 others wounded. According to the United Nations, nearly 69 percent of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
According to Wafa news agency, the official news agency of the Palestinians, the call for today's strike was made, protesting the horrific massacres and crimes committed by Israeli forces. These include the killing of civilians, particularly children and women, and the widespread destruction aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homes.
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