The police stopped the activists of July 36 Mancha from marching towards the Indian Assistant High Commission in Rajshahi and Khulna on Thursday.
The “March to the Indian Assistant High Commission” began around 12:30 pm at Bhadra Intersection in Rajshahi city and proceeded towards the mission office. However, police set up barricades approximately 100 metres before the Assistant High Commission, preventing the procession from advancing.
Demonstrators attempted to move forward forcibly, leading to a scuffle between protesters and police. The protesters alleged that police used force against them.
Later, they staged a sit-in in front of the barricade for more than an hour. Law enforcement agencies did not allow anyone to enter the road adjacent to the Assistant High Commission during this time.
Among those present were Jatia Jubo Shakti central organiser Hazrat Anas, Rajshahi Metropolitan’s relieved joint member secretary Soaib Ahmed, former NCP district organising secretary Iffat Uddin Abir, July fighters Abu Raihan, and Natore district spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Bushra, along with 15–20 other activists.
A “long march to the Indian Assistant High Commission” was held in Khulna under the banner of the Anti-Hegemony Unity Alliance.
The procession began around 4pm from Royal Crossing in the city and moved through Shantidham crossing towards Shamsur Rahman Road, heading for the office of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner. The marchers were initially stopped by a police barricade in front of the Civil Surgeon’s Office.
When the students and protesters attempted to move forward by breaking the barricade, law enforcement personnel halted the procession again in front of the Convention Centre. After staging a brief sit-in there, the programme concluded.
