Police on Thursday stopped a pro-Palestine procession organized under the banner of “alliance of common students and people" before it reached the US embassy in Dhaka. Officials said the procession was halted about half a kilometer from the embassy in the morning to avoid any untoward incidents.

The march was pre-announced in solidarity with the global student protests which have erupted in different universities across the US and Europe in the past few weeks. Last Monday, students of some universities in Bangladesh also marched across campuses, demanding an end to genocide in Gaza.

Hundreds of people were carrying placards like "Stop Genocide" and "Free Palestine." Amidst tight security, the pro-Palestine rally marched towards the US embassy with slogans like “How many kids will you kill today? Hey Biden, what do you say? ” “Biden-Blinken you can’t hide. We charge you with a genocide.”

Moshiur Rahman, one of the main coordinators of Thursday’s program said, Israel’s atrocity in Gaza wouldn’t have continued if the U.S didn’t provide the support.

More than 15,200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces since October 7, including at least 6,600 children—many of them with US provided arsenal and weapons.

“By arming the genocide in Gaza, the US is aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said, adding that the onus is on the international community—many of these powerful countries are also Israel's allies and arms suppliers—the UN, especially the Security Council (of which, unfortunately, the US is a permanent member with a vetoing power) and the ICC, to stop the insane civilian killing spree in Gaza.

“This is no longer a war against Hamas resistance forces; this is a war against civilians, against children, Israel,” said Rahman.