Members of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) gathered on campus Sunday night to hold an absentee funeral prayer (gayebana janaza) and protest march following the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Around 10:30pm, students and union leaders assembled near the Vice Chancellor's courtyard and began the funeral prayer at approximately 10:40pm. The prayer was led by Ducsu Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem.

After the prayer concluded, the group marched through the university's dormitory areas before gathering at the Raju Sculpture at TSC, where a brief rally brought the evening's program to a close.

Speaking at the rally, Shadik Kayem said: “The reason Muslims around the world are facing oppression, persecution, and brutality today is that the Muslim world has become far too divided.” He called on youth and heads of state across the Muslim world to unite.

He cited a hadith of the Prophet, saying: “The Prophet, peace be upon him, said Muslims are like a single body — when any part of that body is struck, the entire body feels the pain. In the same way, when any Muslim anywhere in the world is wounded or martyred, all Muslims must carry that with them.”

He also announced his intention to transform Dhaka into a global “solidarity hub,” declaring, “From Dhaka, we will lead the freedom movement of the Muslim world, In Sha Allah.”

“Through the leadership we provide from Dhaka,” he said, “a free Palestine will be realized, the oppressed of Kashmir will gain their freedom, the Muslims of Uyghur will be liberated, the suffering people of Rakhine will find relief, and the oppressed of Iran will be set free.”

He added: “We may have ideological differences, but we must speak out against injustice, against oppression, against imperialism. If we stay silent, the same attacks being carried out today against Iran and Palestine will one day be carried out against our country, against Muslims everywhere.”