Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Holds Massive Rally in Dhaka Despite Restrictions

Staff Reporter | April 26, 2025

Defying obstacles and crackdowns, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat organized a massive rally in Dhaka, attended by tens of thousands, to show solidarity with oppressed Muslims worldwide, including in Palestine.

Though permission was granted for the event from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday at the National Press Club, the rally was cut short to just 40 minutes. Followers of the group began gathering early, and the rally extended from the Press Club to various adjacent areas, paralyzing traffic until 11:15 AM.

Organizers criticized the authorities for denying their request to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan and claimed the last-minute permission near the Press Club hindered media coverage of the large turnout.

During the rally, six demands were announced, including UN intervention for declaring Palestine a free state, reparations for Israel’s destruction in Palestine, investigations into attacks on Palestinians, repealing India’s anti-Muslim Waqf Bill, investigating shrine attacks in Bangladesh, and ensuring justice for alleged authoritarian acts by the Awami League.

Participants also took three vows: to oppose global and domestic hegemony, fight authoritarianism, and safeguard the interests of Bangladesh’s Muslim community.

Speakers condemned Israel’s actions in Palestine and expressed solidarity with Muslims under oppression. They also warned against attacks on shrines in Bangladesh, pledging a collective response to future incidents, and criticized attacks on Muslim heritage sites in India.

The rally concluded with prayers and was presided over by Shah Hasanuzzaman, President of the Anti-Hegemony Muslim Unity Forum. Notable speakers included Enayetullah Abbasi and other prominent Islamic scholars and leaders.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials, approximately 45,000 to 50,000 people attended the rally, disrupting traffic in the area for over an hour.