July Uprising must be properly documented: Jamaat Ameer

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday questioned why the country is yet to prepare an accurate list of martyred and living Freedom Fighters (FFs) despite 55 years having passed since independence.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the book Azadi Sangramer Potobhumi te July Biplob 2024 at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre in the capital, he said, "There is at least some sort of list of living FFs, whether accurate or not. But there is no complete list of martyred freedom fighters. I have heard only 656 families receive allowances."

The programme, organised by One Initiative Research and Development (OIRD) to mark the second anniversary of the July Uprising, also focused on preserving the history of the movement.

Referring to the Liberation War, Dr. Shafiqur questioned why successive governments had failed to document the actual number of martyrs despite repeatedly claiming commitment to the spirit of the war. He urged the government to prepare a comprehensive record so that the sacrifices of the martyrs and their families receive proper state recognition.

The Jamaat chief also called on the government to preserve an authentic history of the July 2024 uprising. He alleged that the political narrative surrounding the movement had gradually changed after August 5 and shifted further following the February 12 election, with many political promises now being ignored.

He claimed that progress in prosecuting those responsible for killings and attacks during the July uprising had slowed under the current government. He also expressed disappointment over the lack of visible progress in establishing the proposed July Memorial Museum and publishing the July Declaration.

Warning against what he described as attempts to erase the history of the uprising, Dr. Shafiqur said any such effort would be resisted with public support. He urged the government not to take action against those who participated in the July movement, saying they had played a significant role in bringing about political change.

Addressing the event, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan called for bringing alleged collaborators of "fascism" to justice. Shahidul Islam, father of July Uprising martyr Farhan Faiyaz, urged people to remain vigilant against any conspiracy surrounding the movement.