Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman and State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan clashed in parliament today regarding the figures of July martyrs. During discussions to express gratitude to the president for his address, Razib mentioned that three MPs had differing accounts on the number of July martyrs, with figures ranging from 844 to over 1,400. He highlighted that the health ministry’s initial reports, supported by UN agencies, indicated over 1,400 casualties, but a subsequent gazette from the liberation war ministry revised the figure to 844.
Razib questioned Shafiqur Rahman’s claim of visiting 1,200 martyr families when the official gazette listed 844, emphasizing the importance of preserving accurate historical records to prevent distortion. He cautioned against exploiting the Liberation War for personal gain, urging a clear account of the martyrs’ identities and political affiliations.
Responding after a break, Shafiqur Rahman challenged the state minister’s assertion of over 800 martyrs, questioning how he could have visited 1,200 homes if the official count stood at 844. He noted the absence of the state minister during his previous speech and suggested consulting another minister who cited over 1,000 casualties from the BNP and its affiliates.
Shafiqur defended his claims, stating they were meticulously researched and not based on local sources alone, citing the UN Human Rights Fact-Finding Committee’s estimate of around 1,400 martyrs. He emphasized the need for accountability for those missing or killed during the July events, stressing the responsibility of parliamentarians to address such issues seriously and with integrity.