Bangladesh witnessed a sweeping wave of demonstrations on Monday (7 April) as students, political activists, and members of the public rallied in solidarity with the people of Gaza, condemning what they termed ongoing genocide by Israeli forces.
From the capital Dhaka to districts like Cumilla, Chandpur and Rajshahi, protesters formed human chains, held rallies, and marched through city streets, demanding an end to the destruction in Gaza.
Many carried Palestinian flags, placards, and effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for global accountability.
Student leaders spearheaded a nationwide campaign titled "No Work, No School", urging complete shutdowns in workplaces and educational institutions.
At Dhaka University, classes and administrative activities were suspended from 9-11am.
Crowds gathered at the TSC, chanting slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine" and "Stop Genocide in Gaza."
One protester told reporters, “We are on the streets because world leaders have abandoned the people of Palestine. We demand justice, freedom, and a war crimes trial for Israeli leadership.”
At the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), students and faculty formed a human chain on campus. Students of Brac University, North South University, East West University, and the University of Asia Pacific also organised rallies and demonstrations.
In Bashundhara and Bhatara, students from various private institutions took to the streets. Similar scenes unfolded at the Central Shaheed Minar, where students and members of the public—many without any institutional banners—congregated in large numbers.
Jahangirnagar University formally suspended all classes and administrative activities for two hours, in alignment with the global student-led initiative "The World Stops for Gaza."
Academic programmes scheduled for 31/03/2025 were also postponed, per an official notice issued by Registrar ABM Azizur Rahman.
JU Director of Public Relations Mohammad Mohiuddin confirmed the decision was carried out in accordance with the declared movement.
Security was heightened in Dhaka’s diplomatic enclaves, with additional police deployed in Gulshan and Baridhara.
Beyond the capital, protest fervour was no less intense. In Narsingdi, thousands of students blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway for an hour, demanding a boycott of Israeli products.
Political activists from Islamic parties joined the rally.
In Cumilla, protest processions and human chains were formed across several locations.
Thousands, including students from Chandpur Medical College and the Nursing Institute, marched through Chandpur city.
Pabna saw a large rally on Abdul Hamid Road, organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, while in Rajshahi, Rajshahi University students and teachers marched along Paris Road, waving Palestinian flags and condemning Israeli and American leaders through placards and effigies.
These protests were part of a global call to action by Palestinian activists, urging institutions worldwide to suspend operations in protest against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Since the Israeli assault began on 7 October 2023, at least 50,695 Palestinians have been killed and 115,338 wounded in the besieged 365-square-kilometre enclave of 2.4 million people.
According to the United Nations, nearly 69% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
The Wafa news agency reports that the strikes were in protest of “horrific massacres” by Israeli forces, including widespread killing of civilians, particularly women and children, and the systematic demolition of homes, aimed at forced displacement.
