Consensus Commission begins 13th day of talks on women representation, bicameral legislature
In today's discussion, representatives from 30 political parties will participate, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Revolutionary Workers Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.
The talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties for the 13th day of the second phase started at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital around 11:30am today (14 July).
Today's meeting will focus on two crucial issues: women's representation in parliament and the proposal for a bicameral legislature.
This topic of women's representation has been discussed for three days previously.
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Discussions are also scheduled to take place on three other topics: appointment of the chief justice, caretaker government, and declaration of emergency.
Commission Vice Chairman Ali Riaz is chairing the meeting. Also present are commission members Safor Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Badiul Alam Majumder, and Ayub Mia.
In today's discussion, representatives from 30 political parties will participate, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Revolutionary Workers Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.
Opening the day's session, Riaz reflected on the historic significance of July 2024 in Bangladesh's anti-fascist and anti-discrimination student movements.
He noted that the student-led resistance in July 2024, particularly the spontaneous midnight protests by female students of Dhaka University, was sparked by derogatory remarks against those involved in the movement.
"The powerful voices of women not only condemned the insult but also accelerated the momentum of the protest, pushing fascist governance into steady retreat," Riaz said.
Recognising the active role of women in the anti-discrimination movement, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has recently designated 14 July as "Women in July Day."
Riaz emphasised the need to give women institutional representation in the nation-building process. "Only through institutional inclusion can women participate with dignity in politics, governance, and lawmaking," he said, expressing hope for a national consensus on the matter.
