Dhaka //

On the International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has held an international Palestine solidarity meeting.

The solidarity meeting began at 10 am on Friday (December 29) at the Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the National Press Club.

The meeting was chaired by CPB President Md. Shah Alam and attended by Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yusuf S. Y. Ramadan. The opening speech was delivered by CPB International Department Head and Secretary Advocate Hasan Tariq Chowdhury. Speeches were made by CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, Presidium Member Shahin Rahman, Senior Journalist Sohrab Hasan, Doctors for Health and Environment President Dr. Abu Said, and Peace Council Central Committee Member Dr. Shakil Akhter. The program was moderated by CPB Central Member Lucky Akhter.

Palestinian Ambassador Yusuf S. Y. Ramadan said, Bangladesh has been providing special support to the Palestinian people regionally and internationally since its independence. In the early seventies, Bangladesh sent medical supplies to the Palestinian people in 1973. The Palestinian people are always in crisis. Bangladesh is a true friend of Palestine.

In the chairman’s speech, Md. Shah Alam said, we strongly condemn all illegal and warlike actions against Palestine, including the recent atrocities of the occupying forces in the Palestinian territory. In the coming days, we will take more programs to show solidarity with the movement of the Palestinian people. All social, cultural and political forces of our country must fight unitedly to protest against the global imperialist aggression and occupation.

Ruhin Hossain Prince said, US imperialism and its ally Israel must be defeated. Genocide-slaying Israel must be expelled from the United Nations and tried for genocide in the international court. An independent sovereign Palestinian state must be declared.

Sohrab Hasan said, the aggression of US imperialism worldwide has become a threat to world peace. We condemn and protest the aggression and genocide that Israel is carrying out against the Palestinian people with its support and call for resistance. The only permanent solution is possible through the formation of an independent Palestinian state.

Shahin Rahman said, the world must be vocal in demanding an independent Palestine, including the cessation of US arms and naval support to Israel.

Hassan Tariq Chowdhury said, in gross violation of all international laws and human rights treaties, the Zionist Israeli forces are continuing genocide in the entire Palestinian territory, including Gaza, with the direct support of imperialism. The Western countries that give the world a lesson in human rights in words. They are practically silent about the Palestinian genocide today. International organizations like the Arab League and the OIC have also failed to play a significant role in this regard. The Western world is as loud as it is about the Ukraine-Russia war, it is equally silent about the genocide in Gaza. They even vetoed the ceasefire in the first place. The struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian people must be advanced by stopping this imperialist power. The genocide by the Israeli forces in Palestine must be stopped immediately. Jerusalem must be declared the capital and an independent Palestinian state recognized by the United Nations must be established.

Artists from the Udichi Art Group performed anti-war songs at the rally.

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly called for the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine on November 29 every year. Ten years later, on November 29, 1987, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution to establish a Palestinian state. Since then, the day has been celebrated as the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine.