Massive Student Protests at Times Square in Support of Bangladeshi Students’ Solidarity

New York City, NY – On Sunday evening, Times Square witnessed an unprecedented turnout as over 7,000 people gathered in a massive protest organized by the American Bangladeshi Empowerment Initiative. The event, which took place from 7 pm to 9 pm, was a show of solidarity with the student movement in Bangladesh, and it drew support from numerous organizations, including the South Asian Solidarity Foundation, the South Asian Policy Initiative, and the Human Rights and Development of Bangladesh.

Protesters carried large placards and chanted slogans such as “Step Down Hasina”, “Hasina Killer”, and “Save Bangladesh Students”. Some of the placards bore messages like “Hold Sheikh Hasina for Crime Against Humanity”, “Hasina is Committing Massacres in Bangladesh!”, “STOP MASSACRE under COMMUNICATION BLACKOUT!”, “STOP MASSACRE under Power Outage in Bangladesh!”, “STOP SHOOTING INNOCENT PEOPLE ON SIGHT!”, “STOP SHOOTING PEOPLE from Choppers!”, “STOP SHOOTING PEOPLE from Armored Personnel Carriers!”, “LIFT CURFEW & STOP MASSACRE in Bangladesh”, and “STEP DOWN MURDERER SHEIKH HASINA!”.

Imran Ansary, the director of the South Asian Policy Initiative, addressed the crowd with a passionate speech. “Dear brothers and sisters, we are here today to show our solidarity with the student movement in Bangladesh. This event was organized in response to the tragic loss of 300 students under the Hasina regime. Thousands more are missing, and many have been seriously injured. The systematic killings conducted by Bangladesh police, RAB, and BGB are not isolated incidents but clear acts of mass killing. Sheikh Hasina has committed crimes against humanity,” he stated.

Ansary further demanded the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, asserting that she has lost her moral, ethical, and legal legitimacy to remain in power. He called for the United States to impose sanctions against the Hasina regime and for the United Nations to ban Bangladesh Police and BGB from participating in UN peacekeeping missions.

Abdullah Tamjid, Rasel Uddin, Nur Ramin, and Hossain Shuvo, who spoke on behalf of the organizing committee, were among the other speakers at the protest.

According to local media reports, the situation in Bangladesh is dire. In the past four days, 174 people have been killed, thousands have been seriously injured, and a curfew has been imposed. Additionally, there has been no internet connection in Bangladesh during this period, further exacerbating the communication blackout and the plight of the citizens.

The protest at Times Square was a powerful demonstration of international support for the students and people of Bangladesh, urging immediate action to address the ongoing crisis and human rights violations.