Inconsistencies found in list of July uprising victims: Faruk-e-Azam

Faruk-e-Azam, the Advisor on Liberation War Affairs to the interim government, has stated that inconsistencies have been identified in the list of those injured and killed during the July Uprising. He noted that several individuals who were not involved in the movement have been mistakenly included as "July Martyrs" and confirmed that their names will soon be removed from the official gazette. Similarly, the list of the injured will also undergo a fresh round of verification.

He made these remarks on Wednesday (July 30) at the launch event of a special issue of Mugdho July, a monthly children’s and youth magazine published by Peninsula Development, held at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall in the capital.

“The government is working to keep the memory of July alive,” Faruk-e-Azam said. “An ordinance has been planned for the recognition of ‘July Fighters’, which will be implemented by forming a new directorate under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.”

He further informed that a circular was issued from the Cabinet Secretariat in the first week of January. Subsequently, in mid-January, a list of July martyrs was sent from the Ministry of Health and published in gazette form. By mid-February, the list of the injured was also received and immediately gazetted.

The advisor added, “Even to this day, we do not have a complete list of the martyrs and freedom fighters of 1971. In 2005, only a list of 535 martyrs was officially gazetted. To avoid such incompleteness in the case of July martyrs and fighters, we are now conducting the verification process quickly but with great caution.”

He also mentioned that the government has already begun working on monthly stipends and rehabilitation measures for the injured.

Expressing his frustration with the functioning of the Secretariat and ministries, Faruk-e-Azam said, “We used to view the Secretariat only from the outside. But after taking office, I realized how urgently these systems need reform. These institutions were not built to serve the people. Through reform, the public can reclaim their rightful entitlements.”