Women and Children Affairs Advisor, Sharmin S. Murshid, and Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Advisor, Farida Akhtar, both expressed profound respect and gratitude for the rickshaw pullers, who were hailed for their vital role in the movement. The women present at the rally stood in unison, saluting the rickshaw pullers, paying tribute to their courageous contributions.
Following the rally, Sharmin S. Murshid addressed the gathering on Manik Mia Avenue, south of the National Parliament Plaza. She spoke passionately about the significance of July, stating, “July means the end of oppression, July means the respect of women and standing with their heads held high.” She reflected on the historical silencing of women, asserting, "History always hides women. Women will be the writers of that history."
Murshid also highlighted the ongoing struggles women face in society, including social imbalances, injustices, oppression, and cyberbullying. She emphasized the importance of the state's responsibility in ensuring women’s safety, saying, "My ministry will do whatever needs to be done for the safety of women. 54 years of history shows that the state could not do it. If it could, there would not have been 24 uprisings."
She concluded her speech with a bold vision, saying, "I want to build a Bangladesh free from violence against women and children. You will be history."
At the event, the participants took an oath, pledging to continue the fight for women’s rights and safety. The rickshaw pullers, who were honored for their pivotal role in the July Uprising, were commended for their courage and dedication.
Farida Akhtar, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Advisor, expressed her deep respect for the rickshaw pullers, stating, “We will not forget the contribution of rickshaw pullers. We salute them.” She also addressed the issue of women’s security, asserting, "If we cannot provide security to women, we will have to admit failure. Progressives who want to bring women back home, we will come back again in July."
Umama Fatima, a coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, called for the recognition of the 11 female martyrs who lost their lives in the movement. She urged the government to unite all the women and girls who participated in the struggle across the country, stressing the need for justice for the harassment of women.
A powerful moment was shared by the mother of martyr Naima Sultana, who recounted the pain of losing her daughter to snipers during the movement. She poignantly said, "My daughter was targeted and killed by snipers. I don't want anyone to be killed like my daughter."
Nafisa's father, another martyr, spoke emotionally about the difficult months of July and August, when his daughter was martyred. He added, "Nafisa was martyred on August 5. I ask for prayers for all the martyrs. May this country be peaceful. This is what we want from the state."
The event served as a powerful reminder of the struggles that women have faced and continue to face in Bangladesh. As the country moves forward, the call for justice, recognition, and an end to violence against women remains as urgent as ever.
