Eight leftist groups cancel protest march, hold brief rally

"Intelligence agencies have advised us to shorten or cancel the event. However, threats and intimidation won't silence us," says Bangladesh Students' Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza

Eight leftist organisations have called off a planned march in Dhaka to demand justice for murders and rapes, along with the removal of the home affairs advisor. In light of the "overall situation", they decided to hold a brief rally instead.

The rally began at 11:30am on Saturday and lasted for about half an hour before Bangladesh Students' Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza announced the cancellation of the procession.

"Attempts are being made to create chaos around our programme. Intelligence agencies have advised us to shorten or cancel the event. However, threats and intimidation won't silence us," he said.

"Considering the overall situation in the country, we are postponing the planned march from the Central Shaheed Minar to the TSC and ending today's programme here."

The organisations involved in the event include the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Bangladesh Youth Union, Socialist Students' Front, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Hill Students' Council, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Charan Sanskritik Kendra, Central Khelaghor Asor, Socialist Women’s Forum, Bangladesh Khetmajur Samity, and Bangladesh Trade Union Centre.

Tensions had been building since the eve of the event after writer and online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya called for turning the Communist Party of Bangladesh, or CPB, office in Paltan into a "people’s office for students and the public" -- a move widely seen as a response to the leftist organisations’ planned rally.

Despite the tensions, the situation around the CPB headquarters remained calm under the increased presence of law enforcers. The rally, which was initially set to begin at Shaheed Minar, pass through Dhaka University’s VC square, and end at the TSC, was ultimately called off.

At the rally, Students' Union chief Reza demanded justice for the killings that occurred during the mass uprising in July and August last year.

"Every murder committed under this interim government must be accounted for. Our fight will intensify in the coming days."

Socialist Students’ Front General Secretary Raihan Uddin presented a list of seven demands on behalf of the participating organisations.

"You all know that through a bloody uprising in July and August, the autocratic Sheikh Hasina regime was overthrown in Bangladesh. Millions joined this mass movement with the hope of a society free from discrimination."

However, he expressed disappointment over the current state of the country, saying: "People had hoped that with Hasina’s removal, peace and stability would return. Instead, we have witnessed a complete breakdown of law and order across the country."