Hundreds unite to demand an international ban on arms supplies

The Palestine Solidarity Committee Bangladesh will take out a procession at Shahbagh in the capital on Friday to express solidarity with Palestinians and call for an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. | – M.D. Saurav

Hundreds of Bangladeshis gathered in the capital’s Shahbagh on Friday, demanding an international ban on the supply of weapons by countries, including the United States, used in genocides and racial oppression.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee Bangladesh organized the ‘Women and Children Solidarity rally’ to express its solidarity with the Palestinians.

The committee also made seven demands during the meeting to end atrocities in Gaza.

Many demonstrators, including women and children, took part in the rally carrying banners and chanting slogans such as ‘liberate Palestine’, ‘ceasefire in Gaza now’, ‘From the river to the sea’ and ‘Down with Zionism’.

Their other demands include ending genocidal operations in Gaza, ensuring security for Palestinians, implementing protective measures for the health and safety of women and children, and providing essential services such as shelter, food, clean drinking water, medical supplies and fuel to the Palestinian people.

They also called for the dismantling of imperialist practices that contribute to genocides in many countries, including Palestine.

During the meeting, Ibrahim Kishko, a Palestinian student at Dhaka Medical College, criticized the global response, especially from Western countries such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, in support of Israel, calling it “hypocrisy.” because it is contrary to humanitarian principles.

Ibrahim urged pro-Palestinian protesters to continue speaking out against Israel’s war in Gaza, saying: “You (pro-Palestinian protesters) are our last hope.”

Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, who chaired the meeting, said the situation in Gaza was not a trivial issue as their tears represented the tears of oppressed people around the world.

Serajul Islam said Israel committed a “shameless and brutal genocide” in Gaza.

“There is no way to lose in this protest against Israel, because it is a stand against the system of imperialism and capitalism, which gave rise to figures like Adolf Hitler and Benjamin Netanyahu, who committed such heinous acts against humanity,” he added. he added.

Noting that approximately 35,000 people, more than half of whom are women and children, have been killed in Gaza, the speakers emphasized that whenever disasters or wars begin, women and children are often the hardest hit.

Leaders mainly from left-wing political parties, including the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, the Ganajagaran Mancha, the Samajtantrik Mohila Forum, Biplobi Nari Sanghati, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Nari Mukti Kendra and Bhashani Nari Mukti Parishad, and representatives of Hill Women’s Federation and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad were present at the meeting.

Several cultural organizations, including Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Bibartan Sangskritik Kendra, Charan Sangskritik Kendra and Samageet, performed at the event, during which children also made drawings.

After the discussion, a procession was taken out which, after parading along various roads, ended in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh.