Suhrawardy Udyan
A "March for Gaza" program will be held at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan from 3pm today (12 April) to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.
Although the main event is scheduled for the afternoon, people have been flocking to every gate of Suhrawardy Udyan since morning with small and large processions from Shahbag, Doel Chattar, and Nilkhet areas.
Every participant in the procession is carrying both Bangladesh's national flag and the Palestinian flag.
Organisers said this will be Dhaka's largest gathering to support Palestine. They are calling on everyone to participate in this programme regardless of political affiliation.
The organisers said Muhammad Abdul Malek, the khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, will preside over this gathering.
"Marches will begin from five points at 2pm, converging at Suhrawardy Udyan for a mass gathering at 3pm. Processions will enter the park from Bangla Motor, Kakrail intersection, Zero Point, Bakshi Bazar intersection, and Nilkhet intersection," said Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, media coordinator of the newly-formed platform Palestine Solidarity Movement.
However, some changes have been made to the "March for Gaza" programme. The march was initially supposed to go from Shahbag to Manik Mia Avenue. According to the new decision, the mass gathering will only be held at Suhrawardy Udyan at 3pm, and the rally toward Manik Mia Avenue will not take place.
Meanwhile, prominent figures from various religious, social, political, cultural, and sports sectors have expressed solidarity with this program through video messages.
From political organisations, video messages were sent by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Senior Nayeb-e-Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim and Senior Joint Secretary General Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman (Manju), Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Kader, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Amir Maulana Mamunul Haq.
Other political figures showing support include Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Sakhawat Hossain Razi, Gonoadhikar Parishad Nurul Haq and General Secretary Md Rashed Khan, UP Bangladesh's Chief Entrepreneur Ali Ahsan Junayed, and National Citizen Party (NCP) Southern Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah.
From the media and education sectors, Daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman, Buet Lecturer and popular YouTuber Enayet Chowdhury, Daffodil International University Professor Moktar Ahmed, Dr Jahangir Kabir, Presenter RJ Kibria, Entrepreneur Mahmudul Hasan Sohag, Actor Tamim Mridha, and Ten Minute School Founder Ayman Sadiq have also shown their support.
National cricket team players Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nahid Rana, and Taijul Islam have likewise expressed solidarity with the cause.
Religious leaders who expressed solidarity include popular Islamic speaker Mizanur Rahman Azhari, As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman Shaikh Ahmadullah, Ad-Din Foundation Executive Director Sheikh Mohiuddin, National Ulama Mashayekh Aimma Parishad General Secretary Rezaul Karim Abrar, Islamic speaker Abdul Hai Muhammad Saifullah, and Jhalakathi Nesarabadi Darbar Sharif's Pir Saheb Allama Khalilur Rahman Nesarabadi.
Additionally, video messages were sent from Islami Chhatra Shibir's Central President Zahidul Islam, Publication Secretary Md. Abu Sadik Kayem, and Dhaka University Branch President SM Farhad, among others.
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