Bangladeshi University Students Join Global Strike in Solidarity with Gaza, Demand Justice for Palestine
In a powerful show of solidarity, university students across Bangladesh have joined the global student strike to protest the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and express unwavering support for the Palestinian people. Organized through student unions, grassroots collectives, and social media platforms, the strike has seen participation from thousands of students in major cities, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, and Barishal.
Students from leading institutions such as the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, and Rajshahi University walked out of their classes and gathered in campus courtyards, streets, and public squares. The demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, wore black armbands, and held placards bearing slogans such as “Free Gaza, Free Palestine,” “End Israeli Apartheid,” and “Education for Liberation, Not Oppression.”
“This strike is not just about Gaza—it’s about standing against all forms of occupation, genocide, and injustice,” said Farzana Hossain, a student at Dhaka University and one of the organizers of the protest. “We are using our voices and our collective presence to demand an end to the bloodshed and a future where human rights are respected.”
In Dhaka, thousands marched from the Arts Faculty of Dhaka University to Shahbagh, one of the city’s busiest intersections. Similar protests erupted on campuses nationwide. Many student organizations collaborated with civil society groups and human rights activists to host teach-ins, panel discussions, and public readings of Palestinian literature and testimonies from survivors of the conflict.
Social media has played a key role in mobilizing support, with hashtags like #BangladeshForPalestine, #StudentsForGaza, and #StrikeForGaza trending on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Live footage of the marches, speeches, and cultural performances have gone viral, drawing international attention to the wave of solidarity emerging from Bangladesh.
Protesters are not only calling for an immediate ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza but also for the international community—including the Bangladeshi government—to recognize and act upon the systemic human rights violations being committed against the Palestinian people.
“We are demanding that our government and the global leadership move beyond condemnation and take concrete diplomatic steps,” said Tanvir Ahmed, a student from Rajshahi University. “The world cannot continue to look away while civilians, including children, are bombed and starved.”
Despite some warnings from university administrations about disruptions to academic schedules, most institutions have so far allowed the protests to continue peacefully. Faculty members at several universities have also expressed support, issuing joint statements urging the government to uphold the country’s historic commitment to justice and international solidarity.
As part of the ongoing strike, students have vowed to continue demonstrations throughout the coming week, culminating in a nationwide “Day of Resistance” on Friday, which will include candlelight vigils, prayer sessions for Gaza’s victims, and fundraising efforts for humanitarian aid.
The Bangladeshi student movement is now being seen as one of the most active and passionate responses in South Asia, adding to the momentum of a growing global movement demanding justice, peace, and freedom for the Palestinian people.