Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Thursday stopped a pro-Palestinian procession marching towards the US embassy in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka before it reached its destination.
A previously announced procession organized by “students and citizens” was called off in the morning about 000 meters from the embassy, officials said, adding that this was to avoid any untoward incidents.
Author and activist Renuma Ahmed, who was leading the rally, condemned the police's actions.
“We thought the police would be sympathetic to Palestinians and would allow us to travel,” she said.
Earlier in the day, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Department deployed additional police forces around the US embassy and its outbuildings in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave, as the group called for pro-Palestinian rallies around the surrounding area.
Rifat bin Shamim, deputy director of DMP Gulshan division, told New Age that he was aware of the protests by “some left-wing organizations” and that additional forces had been deployed to avoid deteriorating the law and order situation. .
