Staff Correspondent:

Thousands of people from across the capital gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday afternoon, aiming to intensify global solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.

The grand rally, titled ‘March for Gaza’, began around 3:15 pm with the screening of a documentary on atrocities of Israel on Palestinian people.

Maulana Abdul Hye Mohammad Saifullah moderated the event.

Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman read out the declaration demanding an end to atrocities in Gaza by Israel and urging the Muslim world to sever all ties with Israel.

Earlier, thousands of people of all ages from across the capital gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan, joining in small and large processions to take part in the ‘March for Gaza’ programme.

People, including students, chanted slogans ‘1 2 3 4, occupation no more’, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ among others.

Protesters were seen carrying a 70-ft flag of Palestine and various placards denouncing mass killing in Gaza and demanding a free Palestine.

People from all walks of life, leaders and activists of political parties, social organisations came together in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Artists, poets and popular social media influencers also joined the programme to raise bold voices against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Speakers at the rally called on world leaders to bring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other architects of the atrocities to justice.

Political leaders present at the event demanded international accountability and immediate action to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.

Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh organised the rally.

The platform, Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh, created a Facebook event titled ‘March for Gaza’.

As of 6pm on Friday, around 73,000 people had shown interest in the event and 6,300 confirmed their participation.

According to the organisers, this will be the largest public gathering in Dhaka in support of Palestine.

They have urged people from all political affiliations and backgrounds to join the programme.

Additional security arrangements were taken centering the rally to ensure law and order situation while traffic police also took measures including diversion on certain roads to manage traffic flow, said deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman.