Mirpur DOHS residents hold mass rally in solidarity with student movement

Residents of Dhaka’s Mirpur DOHS held a mass procession and rally on Friday afternoon, expressing solidarity with the ongoing student movement.

A few thousand people joined the programme, braving the rain, and chanted slogans demanding justice for the killing of over 200 people, including students.

The banner carried by the residents read: "Choloman poristhitite obosorpropto samorik officer, JCO o onnano shokol podobir ahoban" ["In the current situation, we call upon retired military officers, JCOs, and all other ranks"].

The Mirpur DOHS is home to many retired armed forces members, and a large number of them and their family members participated in the event. Women and girls were particularly visible in the procession.

Various slogans demanding justice for the killings were chanted during the procession, including "We want justice"; "Who are we, who are we? Razakars, Razakars! Who said it, who said it? Dictators, dictators!"; "Injustice will be washed away by a river of blood"; and "My brother is in the grave, why is the killer outside?"

Eyewitnesses said that the procession started at 5 pm and paraded through the entire Mirpur DOHS area. During this time, many residents came out of their homes to join the procession.

A rally was later held in front of the DOHS Cultural Center, where several former high-ranking military officers expressed their support for the ongoing movement, they added.

Earlier on July 18, Chhatra League leaders and activists and others wearing helmets raided the Mirpur DOHS with the help of police in search of students. The rally also protested this incident.