Black-flag march of BNP-led alliance ends peacefully

The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance's black-flag march in Dhaka in protest against Israel’s attack on Palestinians at Gaza ended peacefully.
Saturday's programme was the first by the BNP-led alliance since its last agitation against the 10th general election in January, according to a news agency.
Police had permitted the alliance to hold the programme on certain conditions.
Similar programme was held across the country simultaneously.
There were no untoward incidence or violence apart from snatching and burning of black flags meant for the BNP march in Jhenaidah.
The ruling Awami League had warned the BNP against inciting any violence from the march. The BNP on the other hand stated that the programmes would be peaceful if the government did not obstruct it.
Members of law enforcing agencies with water cannon and Armoured Personnel Carriers were deployed from Naya Paltan to Malibagh to prevent any possible violence.
The march, with top leaders of the 20-Party Alliance at the front, started from the BNP headquarters around 3pm Saturday and ended at Malibagh.
Thousands of leaders and activists, sporting black badges and carrying black flags, took part in the procession.
At least 2,000 Palestinians were killed and a thousand others wounded in Gaza after Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8. There is a ceasefire in effect at the moment.
Addressing from a makeshift stage erected on a truck, the party's Dhaka metropolitan unit chief Mirza Abbas said, "This will be a silent march in protest against killings of innocent people in Gaza. This is not a march against the government."