Rally held at Press Club for minority Muslim communities

To express solidarity with the oppressed Muslim communities in Palestine, India, and Myanmar's Arakan region, a platform on Saturday held a rally at the National Press Club premises in the capital.

Traffic movement came to a standstill for over an hour in the moring in parts of Gulistan, the National Press Club area, Motijheel, Shahbagh, and Paltan, during the rally by the "Anti-Hegemony Muslim Unity Platform".

Commuters faced significant suffering amid the congestion triggered by the gathering.

Abul Kashem Muhammad Fazlul Haque, vice-principal of Dhaka Quaderia Taiyabiya Alia (Kamil) Madrasa, read out a declaration at the rally.

Key organisers and spokespersons, including Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Syed Muhammad Hasan Al-Azhari, Syed Saiful Islam Bari, Shafik Al-Mujaddedi, and Imran Hussain Tushar, also spoke at the event, according to a press release.

"The core spirit of the July uprising was to stand against the oppressor and to play a vocal role against domination," the declaration stated, pledging to rebuild the future of Bangladesh "remembering and embodying the spirit of the July uprising."

The platform also called for building global public opinion in favour of oppressed Muslims in Palestine, India, and Arakan (Rakhine). It demanded direct intervention by the United Nations and the recognition of Palestine as an independent state.

Additionally, it urged the repeal of the "unconstitutional Waqf Bill passed in the Indian Lok Sabha" and called for an investigation into "the post-August 5 attacks and arson at shrines," demanding "exemplary punishment of those responsible." The declaration also sought "justice for extrajudicial killings carried out during the former autocratic regime."

Speaking at the event, organiser Muhammad Mizanur Rahman called on the interim government to officially honour Rohingya martyr Nur Mustafa, who was killed during the July uprising.

"Like many foreign contributors during our Liberation War, Nur Mustafa is one who should be remembered and recognised as one of our own," he said.

The gathering was attended by Hasan Ali, joint convener of the National Citizen Party, along with several spiritual leaders, Islamic scholars, and other citizens from across the country.

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