Rajshahi & Pabna, Bangladesh – Students across several regions of Bangladesh, including Rajshahi and Pabna, have staged protest rallies and marches this week, condemning Israel's ongoing actions in Gaza. Demonstrations saw participation from student organizations affiliated with various political groups, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanding an end to the conflict.
In Rajshahi, members of the Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal (student wing) held a protest rally in front of the university's main gate on Tuesday morning. Participants wore black cloths as a symbol of mourning and solidarity. Following the rally, they marched around the campus, calling for unity within the Muslim world and a boycott of Israeli products.
"Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal has held a protest rally to protest against Israel's continued barbaric aggression and massacre in Gaza. A rally was held in front of the university's main gate at around 11:30 am on Tuesday (April 8). Chhatra Dal leaders and activists participated in the rally wearing black cloths. After the rally, they marched around the campus in a protest march. During this time, they called on the Muslim world to unite and demanded a boycott of Israeli products. Speakers at the rally said, 'The Israeli aggression in Gaza must be stopped unconditionally and the international community must take action against it,'" a student leader at the rally stated.
Protesters in Rajshahi expressed their expectation for a swift response from university authorities and the administration regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza.
In Pabna, the District Chhatra Dal and its affiliated organizations organized a protest march and rally on Tuesday afternoon to denounce what they termed Israel's "genocide" against Palestinians and to show solidarity. The procession commenced from the Government Edward College campus, proceeded through the main thoroughfares of the city, and culminated at Shaheed Chattar with a protest rally.
"District Chhatra Dal and its affiliated organizations held a protest march and rally in Pabna to protest Israel's genocide against Palestinians and express solidarity with the Palestinian people. The protest march and rally was organized by the District Chhatra Dal and its affiliated organizations on Tuesday (April 8) afternoon. The procession started from the Government Edward College campus and marched through the main roads of the city before ending at Shaheed Chattar, where a protest rally was held," a local organizer reported.
Speakers at the Pabna rally criticized the international community's silence on the issue and asserted that the "inhumane torture" of Palestinians is unacceptable to the Muslim world. They echoed the call for a boycott of all Israeli products and demanded that Israel's actions be tried in the International Court of Justice.
"Speakers at the rally said that the whole world is silent about Israel's barbaric genocide in Palestine. The Muslim world will not accept this inhumane torture on ordinary Palestinians. There was a call for a boycott of all Israeli products and the speakers demanded that Israel's genocide be tried in the international court," a participant noted.
Several local BNP leaders and Chhatra Dal officials addressed the gathering in Pabna, further emphasizing their condemnation of the situation in Gaza.
Separately, in Rajapur, students from Rajapur Government College Chhatra Dal held a protest march on Monday afternoon, with participants wearing black cloths tied around their faces. The demonstration aimed to protest the "genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza." Students held banners reading "Stop Genocide in Gaza" to express their solidarity.
"Rajapur Government College Chhatra Dal has held a protest march with black cloths tied around their faces to protest the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. The protest march was organized in front of the main gate of the college on Monday (April 8) afternoon. At that time, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists tied black cloths on their faces and stood holding banners titled 'Stop Genocide in Gaza' and 'STOP GENOCIDE IN GAZA' to show solidarity with the people of Gaza," a college Chhatra Dal leader stated.
Organizers of the Rajapur protest emphasized that the youth of Bangladesh have historically stood with the oppressed and that the events in Gaza are deeply disturbing to global conscience. The peaceful protest reportedly garnered significant local support.
"Rajapur Government College Chhatra Dal convener Shahnewaz Tuhin said, 'Israel is committing a terrible crime against humanity by indiscriminately killing children, women and innocent people in Palestine. We strongly condemn it and call for an immediate end to this genocide. We are drawing the attention of the world community.' He also said, 'The young people of Bangladesh have always stood by the oppressed and oppressed people. The barbarity being carried out in Gaza is shocking to the world's conscience.' This peaceful protest program by Chhatra Dal attracted a large response locally. Participants expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza and called on the international community to take strong action against Israel," a local observer reported.
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