Women’s protest, voices gave new strength to anti-fascist movement: Ali Riaz

National Consensus Commission Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz has said that women’s protest, their powerful voices, their resistance gave a new strength to the anti-fascist movement and pushed it toward change.

He made the remarks while presiding over the 13th day discussion of the second-round reform dialogue with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday.

Ali Riaz said the way the movement gained momentum due to the glorious participation of women can be institutionalised in the context of restructuring the state.

Under the leadership of the anti-discrimination student movement, a mass movement against fascism began in July 2024 and July 14 marked a major turning point, he added.

“In response to disparaging remarks against protesters, female students from Dhaka University and other universities took to the streets overnight. Their protest, their powerful voices, their resistance gave a new strength to the anti-fascist movement and pushed it toward change (in power).”

Expressing the hope for reaching a consensus on Monday’s agenda, Prof Riaz said, “We hope to create an institutional pathway for women’s participation with dignity particularly in politics, state-building andlawmaking. We believe we can agree on this.”

Around 30 political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party-NCP, took part in the talks to present their views on the proposed reforms.