Women’s contributions to July Uprising must be ‘etched in history', says Advisor Sharmeen

"Any case of violence against a woman or torture against a child, should be reported to the ministry within 24 hours," the advisor says

Women and Children’s Affairs Advisor Sharmeen S Murshid has said the contribution of women to the July mass uprising must be properly documented in the nation’s history, noting that their participation marked a defining moment for Bangladesh.

Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Monday, she said women had demonstrated extraordinary leadership during the movement that toppled the Awami League regime after 15 years in power.

"During the July Mass Uprising, 70 percent of women took to the streets. It astonished the whole world. It proved that women won’t fall behind in any way. They are as strong as their brothers when it comes to addressing the crises of the country, the political crisis, and social crisis."

“We have seen the contributions of women to the Liberation War of 1971. However, it was not noted in history properly. (We should ensure) that women’s contributions to the (mass uprising of) 2024 are noted properly in history. It should be written in golden letters on the pages of history that 11 women were martyred in the mass uprising. This is a historic moment.”

She made the remark at a press briefing organised to highlight the "International Fortnight on Prevention of Violence Against Women" programme on Monday. The 16-day programme will kick off on Tuesday.

Advisor Sharmeen said, “Since taking office, the lesson I learnt is that we cannot strengthen our most powerful institutions without structural changes. No human being has the capacity to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed by the undemocratic fascist government in a year.”

"Any case of violence against a woman or torture against a child should be reported to the ministry within 24 hours. The authorities should respond to the information within the next 24 hours. I raised the idea of a QR strategy, -- Quick Response strategy. The ministry’s reach ends at the Upazila level as it doesn’t have any structure at the union or grassroot level.”

"Hence, we are reviving children's and teenagers' clubs at the union level. If there is violence in any of the villages, it must be reported to the ministry. The chain of reporting should be smooth. We’ll begin it with the upcoming 16-day programme."

Regarding the "International Fortnight on Prevention of Violence Against Women", the advisor said: "Although this event has a global origin, its significance in Bangladesh is immense. The reasons why this programme is held, are common in our country."