Protests against the US invasion of Iraq continued in the city yesterday.

People from all sections of the society spontaneously joined protests by different organisations and institutions, which formed human chains, staged rallies and brought out processions demanding an immediate halt to the aggression.

Carrying placards bearing slogans like 'No blood for Oil', 'Stop Killing Women and Childen'', students and teachers of Dhaka Women College formed a human chain at Uttara protesting the invasion.

Bangladesh Health Education Society brought out a procession from Mohakhali and marched towards the US embassy. As police intercepted the procession at Mohakhali, its members formed a human chain and held a rally there.

Among others, Society President Prof. Khursida Khanam and Vicepresident Dr CM Dilwar Hossain addressed the rally, joined by hundreds of people.

The Platform Against Imperialist US War On Iraq, a newly formed body of political parties and cultural organisations, held a rally demanding immediate end to the aggression. The rally was addressed by, among others, Monjurul Ahsan Khan, president of Bangladesh Communist Party, Rashed Khan Menon, general secretary of Workers Party, Mainuddin Khan Badal, leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Md Mohan, a cultural activist. They called upon the people to build up a strong anti-war movement in the country.

They said the US and Britain have attacked Iraq for looting its oil and gas. They are enemies of civilization, the speakers said.

Bangladesh Health and Environment Journalists Network (BHEJNET) expressed grave concern over the indiscriminate bombing in Iraq.

Its president Abdur Rahman Khan and general secretary Abdul Mannan in a statement said the bombing is killing civilians and causing an environmental disaster in Iraq and demanded an immediate end to the aggression.