National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP said the government's failure to take diplomatic action had emboldened fallen authoritarian forces to hold a press conference in Delhi. He made the remarks on Friday after visiting the “July Is Not Over Yet” still-photography exhibition at opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman's residence on Minto Road in the capital.

Nahid expressed anger that the group was allowed to hold a press conference in Delhi on August 5. He said the Foreign Ministry had sought credit through a press release rather than taking diplomatic measures. In his view, the government should have summoned the Indian High Commission, strongly condemned the matter, and publicly explained what diplomatic action it would take if such incidents occurred again.

He said the 11-party alliance and political and social groups supporting the July mass uprising would work together to resist authoritarian forces and ensure reform and justice. Nahid also accused the government of attacks and attempts at control on campuses, as well as politicising the police, university administrations and law-enforcement agencies. He said the exhibition highlighted the continuing struggle for fundamental state-structure reform sought through the July uprising.