Bodies of July martyrs exhumed under international protocols: CID Chief

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has begun the process of exhuming the remains of unidentified victims of the July mass uprising, following full international forensic protocols, said CID chief Additional IGP Md. Shibgat Ullah.

He confirmed the development during a briefing at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial cemetery in Dhaka's Rayerbazar on Sunday (December 7).

"114 graves have been initially identified at the Rayerbazar cemetery, and each body will undergo post-mortem, DNA sampling, and profiling under the Minnesota Protocol," he said.

Renowned Argentine forensic expert Luis Fondebrider, working through the UN human rights office, is leading the technical process.

Families will be able to reclaim remains once identification is confirmed, while unidentified bodies will be reburied with religious rites.

The CID has urged media not to publish photos or sensitive information, citing human dignity and international rules.

Ten families have so far applied for identification, and more submissions are being accepted.