PANCHAGARH, Jan 14: Barrister Muhammad Naushad Jamir, a BNP candidate for the Panchagarh-1 constituency in the 13th national parliament elections, is combining his campaign with a protest against Israeli aggression in Gaza.
He expresses sympathy for the Palestinian people and, as a symbolic gesture, consistently wears an Islamic scarf known as a keffiyeh.
Wearing this scarf, he visits homes to greet ordinary citizens. Since October, this black and white keffiyeh has been adopted globally by those protesting the war in Gaza. In Palestine, this scarf is called a keffiyeh. It has become a universal symbol of solidarity, worn by protesters worldwide.
Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the keffiyeh has been prominent at pro-Palestinian rallies.
Australian politicians Mehreen Farooqui and Lydia Thorpe have worn it in parliament, and a statue of Benjamin Franklin in Washington was draped with one. The scarf, which can also be red and white or plain white, is often decorated with embroidery. People wear it around the neck, over the head, or across the face.
Barrister Naushad Jamir stated, "While we move towards democracy and overthrow fascism, the Palestinian Muslim community has long fought for freedom. Millions have been killed. Thousands of women and children have been brutally murdered. The oppression is extremely cruel." He noted Bangladesh's protests against this brutality.
"The keffiyeh is deeply connected to Palestinian self-identity," he said. "It has become a symbol of their resistance and freedom. Personally, I am conducting my election activities wearing this black and white scarf in solidarity with them."
His younger brother, writer and researcher Barrister Naufel Zamir, is also campaigning while wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh around his neck.
