Protests in Bangladesh demand end to Israeli attacks on Gaza

Different Islamic political parties, mosque-goers and cultural activists in Bangladesh on Friday held protest processions and rallies at places in the capital, including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, protesting at recent Israeli attacks on Palestinian people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Special prayer sessions were held at Baitul Mukarram and other mosques after jumma prayers. The protestors carried Palestinian and Bangladeshi flags and urged world leaders, including the United States, to come forward and force Israel to stop attacks on Gaza and West Bank. Bangladesh will observe a day of state mourning today, Saturday, for the Palestinians killed in recent Israeli attacks. The protestors on Friday criticised the United States and other western powers for blatantly supporting Israel. A protest procession was organised at Baitul Mukarram after jumma prayers. The Khelafat Majlish and other like-minded parties also brought out protest marches after the prayers. The protesters called for boycotting Israeli products and urged the Bangladesh government to take a strong stand against Israel in the United Nations. The mosque-goers held a prayer session at Baitul Mukarram after jumma prayers where they prayed for Palestinian martyrs killed by Israeli attacks. They also prayed for Muslims and Palestinians. Later, activists of the Khelafat Majlish brought out a procession where they also demanded release of Mamunul Haque, former joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam. Security arrangements surrounding the national mosque and adjacent areas were beefed up and many mosque-goers were checked by police before entering the mosque. Paltan police station officer-in-charge Salahuddin said that the procession ended peacefully without any untoward incidents. Mosque-goers also brought out processions at different places in the capital demanding an end to Israeli attacks. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammadpur zone assistant commissioner Azizul Haque said that mosque-goers brought out processions in the Geneva Camp area, Adabar, Shia Mosque area and Lalmatia protesting at the ongoing Israeli attacks. He said that processions were peaceful. Meanwhile, cultural activists of different organisations protested at Israeli attacks and expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samannay Parishad formed a human chain in front of the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital, Dhaka. The parishad’s general secretary, Manjar Chowdhury Sweet, condemned Israeli attacks on Palestine and said that the people of Palestine had been fighting for their motherland for years. Gourab Ekattor general secretary FM Shahin said that Israel must stop ‘genocide’ against Palestinians immediately. Criticising US support for Israeli, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote president Ghulam Quddus expressed solidarity with the Palestinians’ fight for the motherland and condemned Israeli attacks on Palestine. Sammilita Sangskritik Jote vice-president Jhuna Chowdhury said that cultural activists would continue their protests until Israel stopped attacks on Palestine. Besides, Bangladesh Abritti Somonnoy Parishad joint secretary Azharul Hoque Azad, Bangladesh Ganasangeet Samannay Parishad vice-presidents Fakir Sirajul Islam and Mina Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha vice-president Nigar Chowdhury and others also spoke at the human chain. In a statement on Friday, the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh deeply condemned Israeli atrocities and ruthless killing of unarmed Palestinians and innocent civilians, including the elderly women and children. The HRFB called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian support to victims. The organisation also condemned attacks by Hamas that killed Israeli civilians. Over 4,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, following heavy Israeli bombardments in retaliation for Hamas’s attacks, Al Jazeera reported on Friday. Israel pounded the Gaza Strip in response to October 7 surprise attack, the deadliest since the country’s creation in 1948.
Published on: 2023-10-20 17:43:15.967099 +0200 CEST