Dhaka: National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz today announced that the anti-discrimination students’ movement, which began in July 2024, received a significant boost following the events of July 14. In response to derogatory statements made against participants of the movement, female students from various universities, notably Dhaka University, took to the streets at midnight. “The strong voice of women accelerated the movement against that disgrace, and the fascist regime was forced to retreat in the face of resistance of all,” Prof Ali Riaz stated during the 13th day of talks between political parties and the Commission at the Foreign Service Academy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was attended by Commission members including Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Dr Md Ayub Mia, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Safar Raj Hossain, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider. Prof Ali Riaz highlighted the Ministry of Culture’s decision to designate July 14 as ‘July Women’s Day’ to honor the active participation of women in the student movement. He emphasized the need for an institutional framework to support women’s involvement in state-building, politics, and lawmaking.
Prof Ali Riaz expressed optimism about reaching a consensus on enhancing women’s roles in these areas. Representatives from 30 political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gana Sanghati, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, attended the discussion. The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on women’s representation and the establishment of a bicameral legislature, as noted in a Commission press release.