Protests Erupt Across BD Against Israeli Atrocities in Gaza

Protests erupted across Bangladesh on Monday, with students, political leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens condemning Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza and demanding an immediate end to the violence. Thousands of people participated in demonstrations nationwide, calling for a boycott of Israeli products and for global action to halt the atrocities.

Protesters formed human chains, staged rallies, and organized processions to denounce what they described as genocide and mass destruction in Gaza. Political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), led marches in various parts of the country.

Students from different educational institutions, particularly Dhaka University, played a central role in the protests. Demonstrators gathered at Dhaka University’s Raju Monument near TSC, holding Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans. Some students also organized a nationwide ‘No Work, No School’ campaign in solidarity with Gaza.

Tamim Ahsan, a student at Dhaka University, expressed outrage over Israel’s continued aggression. "Today’s rally, part of the global strike for Gaza, was attended by people from all walks of life who are furious at Israel's brutal actions in Gaza," he said. "Hundreds of children and women are being killed every day. This must stop immediately, and we call on the Bangladesh government to join the global movement against Israel."

As part of the protests, demonstrators burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), students and faculty members formed a human chain to express their support for the "Global Strike for Gaza." BUET Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury condemned Israel’s actions, stating that Israel had been committing genocide for over 25 years with little response from the Arab world or other powerful nations.

In the Bashundhara Residential Area, students from multiple private universities, including North South University, Independent University, and American International University-Bangladesh, protested against the ongoing violence.

In Mirpur-10, thousands of protesters carried placards reading "Stop Genocide in Gaza," "Save the Innocent," and "Free Palestine," while chanting anti-Israel slogans. Employees from various private institutions also joined the protests in several areas of Dhaka, including Science Lab, Bosila, and Uttara.

Educational institutions such as Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and North South University officially announced the suspension of academic activities for the day in solidarity with Gaza. Bangladesh Medical University also expressed its support for the "Global Strike and Solidarity Programme."

In response to the violence, Bangladesh's government issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions, calling the ongoing military operations in Gaza a form of "ethnic cleansing." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Israel’s breach of the ceasefire and its continued airstrikes, which have killed scores of Palestinians, primarily women and children, and blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The government described the situation as a human catastrophe.