In a fiery demonstration at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Monday, a group of Islamist students took to the streets to protest Israel’s military actions in Palestine. The protest, held in front of the university’s Shaheed Minar, saw students burning Israeli flags and stomping on American flags and photos of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The students voiced their solidarity with Palestinians, holding up signs with slogans like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “We fear no bullets, we fear no bombs.” The protest also honored those martyred in the ongoing conflict, with some participants accusing global powers of remaining silent on human rights violations in Gaza.
Mostakim Ahmed, a student from BUET’s 2021 class, spoke passionately at the event. “Israel is not a legitimate state,” he said. “When this illegal regime attacks our brothers, it tears at our hearts. We will not stand by as our leaders are martyred. We want to see a free Palestine.”
Another protestor, Mohammad Bin Sharif, added, “The cries of our mothers and sisters in Palestine fill the air, and our brothers are being martyred daily. Israel, your time is running out.”
Interestingly, not all students supported the protest. Several chose to distance themselves, citing the involvement of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an internationally banned Islamist group, as the reason for their absence. One student commented, “We’re deeply upset by Israel’s actions, but we won’t align with an extremist group to express that.”
The protest comes amidst a complex political backdrop in Bangladesh. Hizb ut-Tahrir, a group banned in several countries for its militant activities, has gained newfound influence following the August 5 ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The new government, led by Muhammad Yunus, recently released convicted Hizb ut-Tahrir leader Jasimuddin Rahmani from prison, raising concerns over the group’s growing power.
As tensions rise over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, protests like these highlight the strong emotions and complex political allegiances in Bangladesh, where expressions of solidarity with Palestine are often intertwined with internal power dynamics.