Protest March Towards US Embassy Set for January 10

The Democratic United Front (Ganatantrik Juktafront) has officially called for a mass demonstration and a protest march towards the United States Embassy in Dhaka, scheduled for 10 January. This announcement follows a heated rally held on Sunday, 4 January, in front of the National Press Club, where political leaders gathered to condemn what they described as “imperialist aggression” by the United States in Venezuela. The coalition expressed profound outrage over the recent military intervention that resulted in the apprehension and subsequent removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to American soil.

Presided over by Bazlur Rashid Firoze, General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB), the assembly featured prominent voices from across the leftist political spectrum. Speakers including Nazmul Haque Prodhan of Bangladesh Jasod, Abdullah Kafi Ratan of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), and Mosherefa Mishu of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, voiced their collective shock at the breach of international sovereignty. The leadership argued that the abduction of a democratically elected head of state constitutes an unprecedented act of “state-sponsored terrorism” and a flagrant violation of global legal frameworks.

Central to the protest’s rhetoric was the assertion that the American military operation was motivated by a desire to seize control of Venezuela’s vast energy reserves, particularly its oil. Reports cited during the rally indicated that more than fifty lives have already been lost due to the incursion. The United Front leaders criticised the international community, including the United Nations, for their “feeble and silent” response, warning that such inaction could inadvertently pave the way for a global conflict. Furthermore, they expressed disappointment at the silence of Bangladesh’s interim government, urging the administration to issue an official letter of protest against the “anti-humanitarian” military assault.

The assembly concluded with a demand for the immediate cessation of military hostilities in Venezuela and the safe repatriation of President Maduro and his wife. Following the speeches, a spirited procession marched through Topkhana Road, Paltan, and Baitul Mukarram, serving as a precursor to the larger diplomatic siege planned for the upcoming week.

Key Figures and Organisations in the United Front Protest