The families of a number of the July-August mass uprising martyrs on Thursday demanded rehabilitation of the victims’ families and speedy trial of those involved in the massacre.
They made the demand while addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Around 50 members of martyrs’ families participated in the human chain and said that the anti-discrimination movement only led to a change in the government and bureaucrats but there was no change in the system taking place.
They said that if real change had occurred, the families of the martyrs would not have been forced to hold street protests in a way they felt humiliating.
Their demands included ensuring the speedy trial of those involved in the murders, arranging monthly allowances for the families of martyred ones from February 1, state recognition for the martyrs and declaring a day in their honour, providing employment and housing facilities for their families, and replacing savings certificates with a one-time cash payment.
Their other demands include preserving the burial sites of the martyrs and establishing memorial plaques, issuing special cards to the families of the martyrs for free healthcare and education, appointing an adviser for the families of the victims, and ensuring their security.Â
According to government data, 834 people were killed and 11,551 injured during the uprising that began on July 1 with protests demanding quota reform in civil service jobs and culminated in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The government is still updating the data.
