Israeli ground troops invaded Palestine yesterday, after 10 days of bombardment in Gaza where over 200 people have been injured since July 8.
Protesting Israel's aggression toward Palestine, people from all over Bangladesh held marches, rallies and processions.
In the capital, some Facebook activists, called “March for Gaza,” organised a march which began in front of the National Museum and moved toward the National Press Club, where they had planned a rally.
They armed themselves with different banners with slogans.
Police intercepted them at the TSC of Dhaka University in order to maintain security at the Press Club where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was going to attend a function, and had them return to Shahbagh.
One of the organisers, Moyeen Uddin, said: “We think all humanitarian people and organisations should protest this brutality and from that point of view, we have gathered here today.”
The BNP again called upon the international community to act immediately and raise its voice against the Israeli aggression and ensure withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Gaza without delay.
“We strongly condemn this immoral and unlawful military aggression and demand that this be stopped forthwith,” the party said in a press release.
“The withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab territory will be the first step towards finding a just and lasting solution and to ensure peace in the region, including the establishment of the State of Palestine through peaceful negotiations,”said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party.
A faction of Gonojagoron Moncho, led by Imran H Sarker, paraded from Shahbagh's Projonmo Chattar to Dhaka University campus. Imran urged the government to extend its hand to the people in Palestine and asked that all the human rights organisations and western countries raise their voices against the barbaric attack on the civilians.
Adding to the protests, several thousand Islami Andolan Bangladesh activists also brought out a procession from Baitul Mukarram. Later, at a rally, they burnt an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho and UNO Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, alleging that the UNO has become a hub for Muslim oppression.
In Chittagong, Hefazt-e-Islam Bangladesh organised a rally in front of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque and then brought out a procession that ended at Kajir Dewri intersection. Police were deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also brought out processions and paraded through different strategic points of the city.
At Kishoreganj, Amra Kishoreganj Basi organisation formed a human chain in Rangmohal Chattar area of the district town protesting the brutality of the Israeli soldiers against the Palestinians in the Gaza strip.
The people of Sirajganj district brought out a procession from the central mosque after Juma prayers while in Jamalpur, different progressive organisations formed human chains in the district town's Doiamoye area.
In Pirojpur, hordes of people marched through the town from Matbaria central mosque and held a rally at the local central Eidgah field.