Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the ruling Awami League, on Monday, held protest rally and procession, expressing solidarity with the ongoing global student movement, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
BCL held the rally at the foot of Raju Memorial Sculpture on Dhaka University campus where a large Palestinian flag was hoisted.
BCL leaders said that Palestine should be recognised as an independent state globally and perpetrators of Gaza genocide must be brought to book.
Addressing the rally, BCL president Saddam Hossain said that the protest was a flare-up for those who had supported the aggression in Palestine and provided arms and money to Israel.
鈥楾he youths of the countries, vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolutions, urging Gaza war ceasefire, are today saying 鈥榶es鈥� for Palestine鈥檚 independence,鈥� he continued.
Calling for an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Saddam said that they [Israeli forces] were involved in crimes against humanity, so, they must be brought to justice through the International Code of Crimes and Tribunals.
Two Palestinian students, studying in Bangladesh 鈥� Badawi Jboor Ahmed, president of the General Union of Palestinian Students in Bangladesh and general secretary of the Fatah Movement Bangladesh, and Isaaq Namoura, organizer of the Fatah Movement Bangladesh 鈥� also deliver speeches in the rally.
鈥業 thank all of you for gathering here today for the people of Palestine. There are 30,000 students in Gaza, who are unable to go to schools, colleges, and universities. In sha Allah, we will one day be free from this oppression,鈥� said Isaaq Namoura.
鈥榃hile our children are having milk and rice, the children of Palestine are dying of starvation. We demand an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,鈥� said BCL DU unit general secretary Tanbir Hasan Shaikat.
Earlier, at about 12:30pm, BCL took out a procession from Madhur Canteen of DU, which paraded Fuller Road, Central Shaheed Minar area and ended at Raju Memorial Sculpture near TSC.
Later, meeting was held there where BCL president Saddam Hossain read out a written statement titled 鈥楳emorandum for Peace鈥�.
Moderated by BCL general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, BCL DU unit president Mazharul Kabir Shayon and presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka north and Dhaka south BCL units delivered speeches in the meeting.