Hundreds in Agartala protest Dhaka terror attack, express solidarity with Bangladesh

Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in capital Agartala of northeastern Indian state Tripura against terrorism and express solidarity with Bangladesh.

The protest organised on Tuesday by Left-leaning organisations of Tripura condemned the Friday night’s attack on a cafe in Dhaka that left 22 dead.

Hundreds of youths, writers, poets, artists and scientists took part in the protest rally organised also to expresses their condolences to the families of the victims.

Ratan Das, one of the protesters and a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), said, “Extremists had killed 22 persons in a restaurant at Dhaka’s Gulshan and we think they have been supported, assisted and encouraged by divisive forces of Bangladesh.

“That is why the people of Tripura have organised a protest procession and rally. Here, we have expressed our solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. All the Leftist people of Tripura feel for the people of Bangladesh and we struggle against divisive forces in India also.”

He added that be it Muslim or Hindu, be it Bangladesh or India, religious extremists are trying to rear their ugly head throughout the globe and are an evil that tries to hinder freedom of expression and free-thinking.

Another protester, Amal Chakraborty, said, “We believe that terrorism and fundamentalism are a global scourge and not limited to any geographical boundary. Not only Bangladesh, wherever terrorists or fundamentalists shall bring attack on mankind, we shall be condemning against them."

The protesters gathered in front of Agartala city centre and walked through the streets as they raised anti-fundamentalist slogans.

The protesters, united in horror and in their resolve to stamp out violence, viewed that this kind of attack in a public place on the innocent people was unacceptable to people throughout the globe and should never happen again.