The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has issued the first gazette recognizing the “martyrs” of the July 2024 uprising, a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history.
The gazette, published on Wednesday, includes the names of 834 individuals.
Signed by Deputy Secretary Haridas Thakur, the document lists medical case IDs, names, fathers’ names, current addresses, and permanent addresses of the martyrs, though it does not specify the date or place of death.
The government’s Special Cell on the Mass Movement prepared the initial draft of the list on December 21, which included 858 “martyrs” and 11,551 injured individuals.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, established five decades ago to preserve the history of the Liberation War and support the families of martyrs and injured freedom fighters, has now introduced a new department to assist those affected by the 2024 mass uprising. This follows the tragic events in which around 1,500 people were killed and 20,000 injured.
The uprising was triggered by a quota reform movement at Dhaka University in mid-2024, which escalated in July. The situation intensified after six people, including Abu Sayed of Rangpur, were shot and killed by police.
As the government attempted to suppress the movement, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement evolved into a one-point demand for the resignation of the government. The mass uprising eventually led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5.
After the interim government assumed power, the Ministry of Health formed a committee on August 15 to compile a list of those killed and injured during the July and August protests.
Following thorough scrutiny, the first gazette has now been published.