Speakers at function here today two-day Bengal Delta Conference 2025 at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 29, 2025 (BSS)- Speakers at function here today said July uprising in 2024 has once again paved the way for democratic practice in Bangladesh.

The nation is now proceeding toward a process for transfer of power democratically, they said at two-day Bengal Delta Conference 2025.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain attended the opening ceremony of the conference as the chief guest at Hotel InterContinental in the capital.

Touhid Hossain said, “We do not want to return to the old political order. I hope the youth will remain politically aware of this matter.”

Former Education Minister of Malaysia Professor Maszlee bin Malik said, “Through the mass uprising, democratic culture has returned to Bangladesh. The government's dialogue with various stakeholders in decision-making is a very positive step.”

He further said that the post-uprising reforms will not only serve as a turning point for Bangladesh but also act as a litmus test for progress.

Founding Editor of Indian media outlet The Wire, Siddharth Varadarajan said, “Bangladesh is rethinking the future of its economy.”

Highlighting that Bangladesh is on the path to making new history, he added that the way Bangladesh has handled the issue of US-imposed tariffs clearly indicates a shift towards economic transformation.

Recently, under the leadership of the Commerce Adviser, Bangladesh held discussions with the United States, resulting in a reduction of the imposed tariffs to a tolerable level.

Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said that since the Liberation War, Bangladeshis have dreamt time and again at historical junctures.

However, the country has failed to establish a strong institutional state structure, which has repeatedly led to the collapse of those dreams, he said. 

“Once again, we have risen against autocracy and dared to dream anew,” he added.

On the Liberation War and subsequent uprisings, he said every time our new dreams were smashed because of disunity which led us to ultimate failure. The July 24 mass uprising has once again begun to inspire us to dream, he said.

Former Minister of Nepal Dr. Dipak Gyawali, highlighted the issue of climate change, saying the youth of Bangladesh, who participated in the uprising and are now dreaming of a new Bangladesh, must take the global impacts of climate change seriously.

Also present at the event was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan.

The two-day Bengal Delta Conference has been organized by the Dhaka Institute of Research and Analytics (DIRA).