Bangladesh: Pro-Palestine protestors take out massive rally, slam Israel and US

IANS April 12, 2025 257 views

Thousands of Bangladeshi protesters gathered in Dhaka for a massive pro-Palestine rally, expressing strong solidarity with Gaza's people. The demonstration, supported by major political parties, called for breaking diplomatic ties with Israel and boycotting US-linked businesses. Protesters chanted aggressive slogans and carried provocative imagery targeting US and Israeli leadership. The event highlighted growing regional tensions and Bangladesh's vocal support for Palestinian cause.

"Free Palestine, Stop Israeli Aggression" - Pro-Palestine Protesters, Dhaka
Dhaka, April 12: Thousands of protestors gathered in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Saturday under the banner of 'March for Gaza', expressing solidarity with Palestine and slamming the United States for backing Israel.

Key Points

1

Massive pro-Palestine rally organized by multiple Bangladeshi political parties

2

Protesters demand cancellation of Israel diplomatic relations

3

Security heightened in Dhaka's diplomatic zones

4

Demonstrations reflect strong anti-Israel sentiment

They chanted slogans like "Free Palestine", "Stop Israeli aggression", "Boycott Israeli products", "Boycott US and Donald Trump", and so on, local media reported.

Several media reports also suggested that the protestors beat the images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Leading political parties of Bangladesh - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Hefazet-e-Islam Bangladesh and Amar Bangladesh Party - and several Islamic speakers came out in support of the event.

The protestors called on leaders of the Muslim world to cancel all existing agreements and diplomatic relations with Israel. They also demanded reinstatement of the 'except Israel' clause in Bangladeshi passports.

The country's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported that people started marching toward Suhrawardy Udyan from various places of Dhaka from the morning to join the mass gathering, halting traffic in Shabagh and adjacent areas.

On Thursday Khaleda Zia's BNP also brought out a rally in Dhaka expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and Rafah in Palestine.

Earlier this week, similar pro-Palestine protests erupted in the country, leading to violence in several parts of the region. The mob targetted Israeli-linked businesses and also several outlets of foreign companies.

Security was beefed up in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave, particularly around the US embassy, following the protests in the area. Personnel from Border Guard Bangladesh, Armed Police Battalion, Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department, intelligence agencies and Bangladesh army were deployed to monitor security in the highly-sensitive zone.

In addition, security measures were increased at other embassies in the Gulshan area.

Saturday's protests once again exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh even though the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has said that people responsible for violence and destruction during the earlier pro-Palestine protests will be apprehended.

Reader Comments

A
Asif K.
Proud of my country standing with Palestine! 🇵🇸 The world needs to see this solidarity. But I wish the protests remained peaceful - violence only hurts our cause.
N
Nusrat J.
While I support Palestine, beating images of leaders isn't productive. We should focus on constructive activism like boycotts and awareness campaigns. The traffic disruptions also made life difficult for ordinary citizens.
R
Rahim S.
Alhamdulillah! The Muslim Ummah is waking up. Our leaders must listen to the people's demand to cut all ties with Israel. The 'except Israel' clause in passports should never have been removed!
T
Tasnim F.
The scale of these protests is impressive! But I worry about the economic impact if we completely boycott US products. We need to find a balanced approach that supports Palestine without harming our own economy.
S
Shafiq M.
Why are all political parties suddenly so united on this issue when they can't agree on anything else? Feels like political opportunism to me. The Palestinian cause deserves genuine support, not political posturing.
F
Farhana A.
My heart breaks for Gaza. Seeing thousands of Bangladeshis stand with them gives me hope. But attacking businesses is wrong - many local workers depend on those jobs. Let's protest with wisdom, not anger.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Tags:
Bangladesh Pro-Palestine Protest Gaza Solidarity Israel Boycott Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Muhammad Yunus
You May Like!