In protest against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the "World Strike for Gaza" program, students, teachers, and citizens from various educational institutions including Dhaka University and BUET participated in class and exam boycotts, sit-in programs, and protest rallies throughout Monday.
From Raju Sculpture a wave of protest formed, from where thousands of voices became vocal for Palestine’s freedom and against Israeli aggression.
DU students boycotted all classes and exams to express solidarity with this international strike. The university administration also recognized the program. On April 7, from 9 AM to 11 AM, all DU offices were closed, and all academic activities of the day were suspended.
Daylong sit-in at TSC
Expressing solidarity with the ‘World Strike for Gaza’ program, from 11 AM, students from various schools, colleges, and madrasas of the capital, along with people from different walks of life, started gathering in front of the Raju Sculpture at TSC.
There, the protesters displayed protest placards along with flags of Bangladesh, Palestine, and the Kalima.
They expressed solidarity with Palestine, advocated for an independent Palestinian state, and called for the boycott of all Israeli products. Additionally, effigies of Donald Trump and Netanyahu were burned.
Protesters chanted slogans like “Free Free Palestine”, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free”, “One Two Three Four, Zionism No More”, etc.
At 5 PM, under the leadership of the Gangtanrick Chhatra Sangsad, a procession under the banner of "March for Palestine" joined the protest.
Bangladesh condemns Israeli killings, human rights violations in Gaza
Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad member secretary Jahid Ahsan said, “The freedom that the people of Bangladesh achieved on August 5 through the fall of Sheikh Hasina, that wind of freedom will soon blow in Kashmir and Palestine.”
Protest at BUET
Teachers and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) protested against the brutal attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza, Palestine.
Expressing solidarity with the program titled "The World Stops for Gaza", all offices of the university observed a work stoppage from 10 AM to 12 PM.
Around 11 AM, under the leadership of BUET Batch 20, a human chain program was held in front of BUET Shaheed Minar. Present students, teachers, and alumni participated in it.
Participating in the program, Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, professor of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, said,
“From this pile of destruction, an independent Palestine will rise, and that very rise will mark the beginning of the fall of colonialism and imperialism. Keeping this thought in mind, the youth of Bangladesh must shape their lives.”
Meanwhile, as part of the protest, the university administration suspended all academic activities for the following day, Tuesday. This information was given in a notice sent by BUET’s Information and Publication Department's Senior Assistant Director Md. Shafiur Rahman on Monday.
Siege of foreign ministry and march toward US embassy
A press release from an organization named “Azad Palestine” stated that, with six demands, there will be a program to lay siege to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a march toward the US Embassy on April 8 at 3:30 PM from Raju Sculpture.
As part of the program, effigies of Netanyahu and Trump will be burned.
The six-point demands include a state-level condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Gaza aided by the US, summoning the US High Commissioner to hold them accountable for America’s support of the genocide, reinstating “Except Israel” in passports, boycott Israel in all aspects, disclose Awami League's secret agreement with Israel and ban the fascist Awami League.
Schools, universities closed across Bangladesh in solidarity with Palestinians
One of the organizers, Musaddiq Ali, called for the creation of the largest mass gathering in support of Palestine by uniting everyone irrespective of political affiliation.
Programs by Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir
Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal has called for a protest rally tomorrow (April 8) at 12 noon in front of Raju Sculpture.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced a week-long program, which includes observing a strike in educational institutions and closure of all offices and courts on April 7 in solidarity with the global strike for Gaza.
“Metropolitan protest on April 8, hoisting the Palestinian flag on April 9, submitting memorandums to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various embassies on April 10 demanding an independent Palestinian state and mass movement at the district level on April 11.”
Additionally, Dhaka University's nationalist teacher organization ‘Sada Dal’ expressed strong condemnation of the genocide in Gaza in a statement and showed solidarity with the “No Work, No School Until Genocide Stops” program.
The leaders said: “Israeli occupation and massacres are among the gravest crimes against humanity. Being active on the streets against this massacre, regardless of party affiliation, is a moral duty.”