A silent procession of professionals was held in Dhaka on Friday, protesting attempts to undermine the country鈥檚 democratic environment and tarnish the image of Tarique Rahman, hailed as a symbol of youth pride.
The procession, organised by the Bangladesh United Professionals Council, began from the Jatiya Press Club and marched through Kadamful Fountain, Topkhana Road and Purana Paltan before returning to the Press Club.
It was led by Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, convener of the council, and journalist Kader Gani Chowdhury, its member secretary.
Speaking during the event, Zahid said that democracy in the country was under threat from 鈥榗onspirators operating from the shadows鈥�.
鈥楾hese elements are the main obstacle to restoring democratic governance,鈥� he added.
Kader Gani Chowdhury said that the people of Bangladesh had been struggling for nearly two decades to reclaim their voting rights, yet that right remained elusive.
He alleged that 鈥榓gents of fascism鈥� still held influential positions within the administration and called for their removal.
Gani also demanded the repeal of all repressive laws, including the Cyber Security Act, and an end to what he described as the 鈥榩olitics of character assassination鈥� and conspiracy against national leaders.
A wide range of professionals and prominent citizens took part in the procession.
Among them were Bangladesh Open University vice-chancellor Professor ABM Obaidul Islam, senior lawyer Subrata Chowdhury, National University pro-VC Professor Lutfur Rahman, corporate leader Syed Alamgir, and educationists, physicians, engineers, agriculturists and聽journalists.