DHAKA,
March 20 (IslamOnline.net) - Thousands of antiwar demonstrators rocked
the streets of Bangladesh capital Dhaka Thursday, March 20, chanting
slogans against U.S.-led military strike on Iraq.
Angry
agitators, including political activists from both left and right camps,
burned down American flag to protest the U.S.-U.K. coalition war against
Iraq.
The
left-leaning 11-party alliance called a countrywide half-day shutdown
for Saturday, March 22, to protest what they called America-British
imperialist aggression against the oil-rich Gulf country.
Pro-Islamic
groups, and activists of left-leaning political parties, student
organizations and professional bodies came out on the street to join an
impromptu protest immediately after the U.S. launched the missile
attacks on Baghdad.
Jamaat-e-Islami
Bangladesh, the main ally of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government,
strongly condemned the U.S. attack on Iraq ignoring world opinion.
Jamaat
chief and Agriculture Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami cautioned, in a
statement, that the U.S. and its allies would be held responsible for
“dangerous consequences of the unilateral and unjustified war”.
Some
student fronts, including Bangladesh Chhatra Union, set afire a U.S.
flag at Central Shaheed Minar to protest the war.
The
protestors condemned the “assassination attempt” on Iraq President
Saddam Hussein this morning, and killing civilians in Baghdad in an
unending salvo of missile and bomb attacks.
“Smash
and burn the strongholds of America,” “ Why the attack on Iraq,
Reply Kofi Annan,” “ No War for Oil,” shouted members of different
Islamic groups parading the streets around the National Baitul Mukarram
Mosque downtown Dhaka in the afternoon.
The
authorities have tightened security in and around the diplomatic enclave
as well important government installations in the capital.
The
leftist alliance staged antiwar rally at Muktangan in the city, where
cultural activists performed recitation and antiwar songs in line with
the latest style of popular demonstrations in different parts of the
world.
Bangladesh
Nezame Islam Party that also held a rally in the city called for
boycotting U.S. products and severing ties with the United States.
The
party demanded resignation of U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan over
failing to protect Iraqi civilians.
Gynecologists
and expectant mothers also took to the street to voice their protest
against the Anglo-American war on Iraq and demanded an immediate end to
the war.
“War
Means Disabled Children”, “War Means Repressed Women”, “War
Means Destruction of Civilization”, the angry physicians chanted.
The
gynecologists and pregnant women, and other doctors turned out on the
streets in separate processions from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University, carrying antiwar banners and festoons.
The
marchers assembled in front of National Press Club where doctors urged
Washington and London to stop the war for the sake of humanity.
 |
|
An
angry protesters sets U.S. flag ablaze
|
World
opinion is now against war since war cannot be a solution to any problem
and the attackers should understand that, they observed.
The
marchers urged a peaceful solution of the Iraq crisis through the United
Nations.
In
a statement, Journalists-Employees Oikya Parishad said the aggression
carried out against Iraq by the Bush administration and its allies
without the U.N. sanction should immediately be stopped.
In
a similar statement, Doctors Against War charged that the government
policy on Iraq crisis was not clear.
The
government was talking about peace and yet imposed embargo on holding
press conference by the Iraqi Ambassador, trying to “appease the
imperialist powers”.
Dr
Mustaque Hossain read out the statement at the rally held in front of
the Supreme Court compound.
In
a separate statement, Bangladesh Chhatra Kendro said the attack on Iraq
was a manifestation of “naked imperialist aggression”.
Convenor
of Jatiya Ganofront Tipu Biswas and General Secretary of Jatiya Krishak
Khetmajur Samity Nasiruddin in their statements criticized the ruling
four-party alliance and main opposition Awami League for keeping mum on
the attack on Iraq.
They
called upon all to raise voice and build mass resistance against
military attacks by the U.S.-U.K.-led imperialist powers.
Bangladesh
Thursday the failure to find a peaceful solution of the Iraq crisis as
the U.S.-led war on Baghdad started.
“We
always preferred a peaceful solution to the Iraq problem… it’s
unfortunate and regrettable that a peaceful solution could not be
arrived at,” Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told reporters
at.
Asked
if Bangladesh condemns the missile attack on Baghdad this (Thursday)
morning within hours of the end of President Bush’s 48-hour ultimatum,
he evaded a direct reply, saying “we are committed to a peaceful
solution.”
“We’re
closely monitoring every development on Iraq minute by minute and
we’ll let you know our reaction as the situation evolves,” he added.
