Synopsis
On April 12 in Dhaka, thousands of protestors gathered under the 'March for Gaza' banner, showing support for Palestine and criticizing the United States for its alliance with Israel. The rally involved various political parties and speakers calling for the end of diplomatic relations with Israel.Key Takeaways
- Massive turnout in Dhaka for pro-Palestine rally.
- Participants condemned US support for Israel.
- Call for Muslim leaders to sever ties with Israel.
- Increased security measures around US embassy.
- Highlighting the volatile law and order situation in Bangladesh.
Dhaka, April 12 (NationPress) Thousands of protestors convened in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, on Saturday under the banner of 'March for Gaza', showcasing their solidarity with Palestine and condemning the United States for its support of Israel.
Participants vocally expressed their sentiments with phrases like 'Free Palestine', 'Stop Israeli aggression', 'Boycott Israeli products', and 'Boycott US and Donald Trump', as reported by local media.
Various news outlets indicated that protestors displayed their discontent by striking images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Several prominent political parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Hefazet-e-Islam Bangladesh, and Amar Bangladesh Party, along with numerous Islamic speakers, rallied to support the cause.
Demonstrators urged leaders across the Muslim world to terminate all existing agreements and diplomatic ties with Israel. They also called for the reintroduction of the 'except Israel' clause in Bangladeshi passports.
According to the leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo, individuals began their march towards Suhrawardy Udyan from different locations in Dhaka early in the morning, causing traffic disruptions in the Shabagh area and its surroundings.
Earlier on Thursday, Khaleda Zia's BNP also organized a rally in Dhaka to express support for the residents of Gaza and Rafah in Palestine.
This week, there were similar pro-Palestine demonstrations across the nation, some of which escalated into violence, targeting Israeli-affiliated businesses and foreign company outlets.
In response to the protests, security heightened around Dhaka's diplomatic zone, particularly near the US embassy. Forces from the Border Guard Bangladesh, Armed Police Battalion, Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department, intelligence agencies, and the Bangladesh army were deployed to oversee security in this sensitive area.
Furthermore, security protocols were reinforced at other embassies in the Gulshan locality.
The protests on Saturday highlighted the worsening law and order situation in Bangladesh, despite the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus pledging to apprehend those responsible for violence and destruction during prior pro-Palestine demonstrations.
