Leftist student alliance holds torch march at Dhaka University to protest US trade deal

They also called a protest march to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 11am on Monday

The Democratic Students' Alliance, an alliance of several left-wing student organisations, have held a torchlight procession on the Dhaka University campus demanding the cancellation of Bangladesh’s trade agreement with the United States.

The torchlight procession began at 7pm on Friday from Dhaka University's TSC. The procession marched through various places on campus before ending with a rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus signed the trade agreement with the United States on Feb 9, days before the 13th parliamentary elections.

Various quarters, including political parties, have since criticised the agreement, calling it “unequal”.

The Democratic Students' Alliance rally claimed that the agreement is “against the country's interests”. It also claimed that the agreement will “destroy” the country's poultry, dairy, pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as its sovereignty.

The leftist students also announced a protest march towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 11am on Monday to demand the cancellation of the trade agreement.

The rally was chaired by Jabir Ahmed Jubel, coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of the Revolutionary Students' Alliance. Bangladesh Chhatra Union President Tamjid Haider Chanchal, Democratic Students' Council General Secretary Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, Revolutionary Students' Youth Movement Organiser Anurabh Ashraf, and Pahari Chhatra Parishad President Samar Chakma addressed the rally.

Writer and researcher Maha Mirza and physician Harun Or Rashid also spoke at the rally to express their solidarity

Socialist Students' Front General Secretary Rafiquzzaman Farid moderated the rally.