Tens of thousands of students, professionals, and general people across Bangladesh held demonstrations throughout Monday as part of a global strike in solidarity with Gazans amid an escalating offensive by the Israeli military.
The strike was largely observed by various educational institutions, mainly universities, by boycotting academic and professional activities.
There was no government order in this regard.
The protesters demanded an end to the Israeli aggression and urged the Bangladesh government to pursue foreign policies supporting the struggles of Palestinians.
A huge number of women and children also joined the countrywide demonstrations.
The government of Bangladesh on the day expressed its strongest-ever condemnation of the Israeli occupying forces鈥� continued mass killing and gross violations of human rights in the Gaza Strip.
Different political parties and other organisations also expressed solidarity with the Gazans, held demonstrations and issued statements.
Following the demonstrations near the US Embassy in Dhaka, security was beefed up in the diplomatic zone and the movement of vehicles was restricted.
The US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday advised US citizens to stay vigilant due to protests across the country, including Dhaka.
In some places, including Chattogram, Cox鈥檚 Bazar, Sylhet and Bogura, demonstrators damaged some restaurants and shops for allegedly keeping Israeli products like Coca-Cola.
Bangladesh Chhatra Dal had announced protest rallies at all educational institutions for today while Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir announced different programmes for April 7-13.
Former national team cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad in his verified Facebook page announced for a 鈥楳arch for Gaza鈥� programme for April 12 at 3:00pm from Shahbagh to Manik Mia Avenue in the capital.
鈥楪aza has called a global strike for this Monday,鈥� read a post on Saturday regarding the call on verified X handle of Translating Falasteen (Palestine), an online platform to spread the voices of the people of Palestine.
Several universities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh Open University, BRAC University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur Agricultural University, Pirojpur Science and Technology University, North South University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, United International University, Khulna University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Daffodil International University, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Independent University, International Islamic University Chittagong, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Islamic University in Kushtia and many others issued statements responding to the global call.
Students of different degree colleges and schools across the country, including Dhaka, also protested by boycotting classes on the day and they were joined by the teachers and the staff members.
抖阴精品 correspondent in DU reported that the university administration suspended all office activities from 9:00am to 11:00am on Monday.
On the day at around 11:30am, DU students staged rallies in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla and Anti-Violence Raju Memorial Sculpture.听
Students of different degree colleges and other educational institutions, too, joined these demonstrations.
They carried various placards reading 鈥楤oycott Trump, Save Palestine鈥�, 鈥楤oycott USA鈥�, 鈥楽how Israel the red card鈥�, 鈥楽top genocide鈥�, 鈥楳uslims of the world, rise and fight,鈥� and 鈥楾here will be no place for Israel in this world鈥�, and so on.
At the central Shaheed Minar in the capital, at around 12:00pm, Jagannath University Teachers Association held a rally in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
At around 12:30pm, various types of professionals, including physicians, wearing white aprons also held demonstrations in the DU area.
Two DU students were assaulted on campus, who alleged that they were attacked by the banned Hijbut Tahrir organization.
In Bashundhara residential area in Dhaka, at around 11:30am, the students, teachers and staff members of North South University, United International University, American International University and Independent University of Bangladesh brought out protest processions.
BRAC University students held a rally in front of their campus at Badda.
Students of different universities, including United International University and Presidency University, also staged demonstrations near the US Embassy in Dhaka chanting slogans like 鈥楩ree Palestine鈥�.
Some students demonstrated on the road in front of the embassy in the morning while some others demonstrated by a footbridge opposite to the embassy in the afternoon.
Since the morning, additional security was seen in front of the embassy and near the demonstrations.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police鈥檚 Gulshan division assistant commissioner Ali Ahmed Masud on Monday said that following the demonstrations across the city security was increased at the embassies with the help of police, army, Border Guard Bangladesh, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch and police intelligence personnel.
They stopped the vehicles from going to Gulshan from Notun Bazar via the road in front of the US Embassy, he added.
On Monday, in a post titled as 鈥楧emonstration Alert鈥� in its website, the US Embassy advised the US citizens to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings.听
A group of cultural activists, writers, rights activists and student leaders under the banner of Dhaka Solidarity with Gaza held demonstrations at Shahbagh in the capital in the afternoon.
They brought out a procession towards the US Embassy, but took a U-turn from the Karwan Bazar crossing to return to Shahbagh following a police request, said Samageet Band member Bithi Ghosh.
The demonstrators lambasted the US for supporting Israel to continue deadly attacks in Palestine and urged the Bangladesh government to follow foreign policy measures supporting the struggle of Palestinians.
Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki was also present in the demonstration.
Bangladesh Islami Front, Khelafat Juba Majlish, Gonoshakti, students of the capital鈥檚 Sheikh Borhan Uddin College held separate rallies in front of the National Press Club and called on the world community to be vocal against the Israeli aggression and demanded the formation of a separate state for the Palestine people.听听听听
Left Democratic Alliance, a combine of six left political parties, will hold a rally in front of the National Press Club today at 5:00pm protesting against the attacks.
Protesters, including common people and students of different educational institutions, including madrassahs, also held demonstrations at Uttara, Mohammadpur, Banglamotor, and Bhatara areas in the capital.
Angry students and people vandalise a signboard with the Coca-Cola logo, protesting against the Israeli aggression in Palestine in violation of the ceasefire agreement, at GEC crossing in Chattogram city on Monday. 鈥� Focus Bangla photo
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抖阴精品 correspondent in Jagannath University reported that both students and faculties of the university staged demonstrations.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Jahangirnagar University reported that JU students and students from other institutions held protests.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Chattogram reported that from early morning several rallies and protest gatherings were organized across the port city in support of Gazans.
Representatives of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, All Students Unity Chattogram, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Islamic Front Bangladesh, and Jamea Ahmadia Sunnia Madrassahs also joined the demonstrations.
During a protest march jointly held by Anti-discrimination Students Movement, National Citizen Party, Inquilab Mancha, and Hefazat-e-Islam in Chattogram, some protesters threw stones at a KFC outlet at Nasirabad, a Domino鈥檚 Pizza outlet at the GEC intersection, vandalised Hotel Zaman and a Pizza Hut shop allegedly for showing Coca-Cola signboards at Tigerpass and a business establishment named PUMA at Lalkhan Bazar.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Mahmudah Begum said police brought the situation under control and security was tightened.
Our correspondent in Sylhet reported that protesters vandalised an outlet of KFC at Zindabazar and two Bata showrooms in Ambarkhana and Zindabazar areas in the city.
Sylhet Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Md Ziaul Haque said they kept the situation in control and additional police personnel were deployed.
In Cox鈥檚 Bazar, during a rally, some protesters damaged some restaurants and shops, including KFC outlets.
抖阴精品 correspondents from Panchagarh, Pabna, Patuakhali, Jashore, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Gaibandha, and Manikganj also reported protests in these districts.
