Bangladesh Erupts in Nationwide Protests for Gaza Solidarity

Bangladesh witnessed a wave of nationwide protests as thousands of students, political activists, and ordinary citizens took to the streets, voicing outrage over Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza. From human chains to protest marches, from campuses to city squares, demonstrators rallied in powerful solidarity with the Palestinian people, condemning what they described as genocide and mass destruction in Gaza.

The demonstrations unfolded across various parts of the country, with protesters demanding an immediate end to the Israeli offensive. Many called for justice, insisting on the prosecution of Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes. Slogans echoing demands for Palestinian freedom and chants against Israeli aggression reverberated through the streets of Dhaka and beyond.

A major highlight of the protest movement was the nationwide "No Work, No School" campaign called by student leaders. Educational institutions and workplaces in the capital and other cities came to a standstill. At Dhaka University (DU), one of the epicenters of the protests, classes and exams were suspended while university offices remained closed from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Crowds of students and citizens, including children, converged at the TSC area of the DU campus, raising their voices against the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza.

“We’re on the streets because world leaders have turned their backs on Palestine. We demand freedom for the Palestinian people and justice for the crimes committed against them,” said one protester, speaking to reporters.

Similar scenes unfolded across other educational institutions. At Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), teachers and students formed a human chain on campus, holding placards and banners that called for an end to the violence. "We stand with Gaza because innocent people are being slaughtered," a female BUET student declared during the demonstration.

Private universities and local communities also joined the protests. Students from various institutions marched through Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area and Bhatara, while students of Dhaka Medical College gathered at the iconic Central Shaheed Minar, a historical symbol of resistance. Students from the University of Asia Pacific stood in solidarity by organizing a human chain in front of their campus.

In several places, demonstrators carried effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, symbolizing their anger at Israel’s leadership. Employees of private firms also participated, staging rallies in locations such as Science Lab, Bosila, and Uttara.

Throughout the day, waves of people continued to head toward Central Shaheed Minar, where multiple organisations held protest programmes.

The movement stretched beyond Dhaka. Jahangirnagar University (JU) announced a suspension of its academic and administrative activities for two hours today as part of the global student movement titled "The World Stops for Gaza." Furthermore, JU postponed all scheduled classes and exams for the following day, according to an official notice issued by the university’s registrar, ABM Azizur Rahman.

Many other educational institutions, including North South University, also cancelled academic activities to participate in the protests, amplifying the message of solidarity across the nation.

Bangladesh’s rising chorus adds to growing international outrage as Gaza faces an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe. With campuses and city streets transformed into rallying grounds, the people of Bangladesh have made their position clear: they stand firmly with Palestine.