Bangladesh erupts in protests against Israeli massacre in Gaza

In response to the global call for a strike in support of Palestinian rights on Monday, students and educational institutions in Bangladesh have pledged their solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The authorities of Dhaka University (DU) and Jagannath University have announced the suspension of all classes and exams on Monday. Jahangirnagar University will halt academic activities on Tuesday, while Rajshahi University (RU) plans to hold a rally in front of the campus Senate building to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Student organizations, including Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Chhatra Union, have called for the closure of all educational institutions and offices on Monday in support of the global “World Stops for Gaza” movement.

On Tuesday, Chhatra Dal will organize a demonstration by having students across the country wear black masks and march in urban areas to show their solidarity.

A group of DU students, under the banner of “Azad Palestine,” has called for a major march to the US embassy in Dhaka from the Raju Sculpture at 3:30 PM on Tuesday.

Earlier, on Sunday, students from various departments of Dhaka University issued statements supporting the strike.

The strike calls for the suspension of academic and professional activities to protest the ongoing violence in Palestine.

In addition, the Dhaka University authority issued a notice expressing solidarity with the global strike, suspending all classes and exams tomorrow and closing offices from 9 AM to 11 AM. The new exam schedule will be announced later.

A group of DU students also organized a protest march on Sunday at 7:30 PM, demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestine. The march was held under the banner of “Azad Palestine,” followed by a funeral prayer in absentia at 8:45 PM.

The protesters called on the government to take a clear stance on Israel and to reinstate the “except Israel” clause in passports.

Musaddiq Ali, a student from the Bangla department, announced the next program—a "flag march" to the US embassy on April 8 at 3:30 PM from the Raju Sculpture. He also encouraged people to hold funeral prayers in absentia in mosques and join protest rallies across the country.