Tens of thousands of people on Saturday thronged the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital to attend the ‘March for Gaza’ rally in protest against Israeli genocide in Palestine.
People from all ages – from children to elderly – attended the mammoth rally.
Every inch of the venue was filled with protesters. It could not accommodate all the protesters, leading to splitting them to the streets in the adjacent areas.
The air buzzed with slogans such as ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free’, ‘One, Two, Three, Four, Genocide No More’ and ‘Free Free Palestine.’
Traffic movement in adjacent areas including Shahbag, Banglamotor, Science Lab, Paribag, Katabon, Bata Signal, Nilkhet, Bakhsi Bazar, Chankharpul, Purana Paltan, and Kakrail became standstill for hours.
Although the programme began at 3:00pm, people began to gather at the venue since morning.
They carried banners and festoons inscribing various slogans and lines, condemning Israel and its allies for the barbarism, killing thousands of innocent civilians including a large number of them being children and women.
Maulana Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, presided over the program.
Leaders and activists of various political parties including BNP, Jamaat and NCP, cultural and social organizations attended the programme.
The protesters demanded immediate end to the crimes against humanity committed by Israel.
We may have differences of opinions on various issues but we are united for freedom of Palestinians, said As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman Sheikh Ahmadullah.
He said an independent state is the right of the Palestinians. We, the Bangladeshi people regardless of religion or caste, are expressing solidarity with them and demanding an end to the Israeli oppression.
Islamic speaker Mizanur Rahman Azhari said the large crowds here is the manifestation of Bangladeshi people’s love for Palestine and Al-Aqsa.
Although Bangladesh is geographically far away from Palestine, it remains in our hearts, he said.
Mahmudur Rahman, Editor of Daily Amar Desh, read out a declaration at the rally.
The declaration placed five demands to the United Nations and the international community.
The demands include trial proceedings of Israel in the International Court of Justice for the genocide, collective efforts to stop the genocide, end to Israeli occupation to the land of Palestine, recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestine and establishment of its sovereignty.
He also called upon leaders of the Muslim world to cut economic, military, and diplomatic ties with Israel immediately, impose sanctions on Israel, and to supply humanitarian aids to the war-stricken Gaza.
The demonstration also demanded the Bangladeshi government to restore the ‘Except Israel’ clause on passports and to send relief materials to Gaza, protest Indian oppression against its Muslim community and to include history of the struggle of Palestinians in textbooks.
The ‘March for Gaza’ program concluded around 4:15 pm with prayers for peace in Gaza, conducted by Baitul Mukarram Khatib Mufti Abdul Malek.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Prof Mia Golam Parwar, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, National Citizen Party chief organizer (south) Hasnat Abdullah, Bangladesh Labor Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur and ‘Nirapod Shorok Chai’ movement chairman Ilias Kanchan were present at the rally, among others.
