[🇧🇩] Those who have laid down their lives to free Bangladesh

[Saif]

Video of piling bodies on rickshaw-van at Ashulia goes viral

The video of piling up bodies in a van that went viral on social media occurred at Ashulia on the outskirt of the Dhaka city...

www.newagebd.net

Video of piling bodies on rickshaw-van at Ashulia goes viral
Staff Correspondent 31 August, 2024, 22:27

The video of piling up bodies in a van that went viral on social media occurred at Ashulia on the outskirt of the Dhaka city.

The incident took place on August 5 after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India amid the student-led mass uprising.

In the viral video, several bodies were seen piled up in a van.

Besides, it was also seen in the video that another body was being loaded on them by police members in two attempts that was just like throwing sacks loaded with goods. The bodies were later covered with a poster. At that time, some other police members were also seen walking around.

Soon after the gruesome video went viral, an argument arose among netizens where some people were seen suspecting it to be a fake one or a video not related to the latest movement.

It could be, however, confirmed that the incident took place on a road near the Ashulia police station on the afternoon of August 5.

It was primarily believed that the victims were protesters but their identities could not be confirmed.

Out of the several police members there, the identity of one could be confirmed as Arafat Hossain, an inspector of Detective Branch.

DB officer-in-charge Riaz Uddin Biplob confirmed that the police officer was his colleague Arafat who hailed from Barishal.

‘Arafat is now not at the office. He went on five-day leave. His leave will end on Sunday,’ he said.

Arafat was called but he could not be reached over the phone despite several attempts.

In the video, it was not clear how many bodies were there but those who watched the video assumed the number between four and eight.​

 

[Saif]

Ashulia video clip of body dumping warrants early probe

A VIDEO clip of apparently police personnel dumping a body onto several other bodies onto a rickshaw van, said to have taken place on Dhaka’s outskirts of Ashulia, that has gone viral on social media warrants immediate government attention. It calls for an early investigation to establish...

www.newagebd.net

Ashulia video clip of body dumping warrants early probe
02 September, 2024, 00:00

A VIDEO clip of apparently police personnel dumping a body onto several other bodies onto a rickshaw van, said to have taken place on Dhaka’s outskirts of Ashulia, that has gone viral on social media warrants immediate government attention. It calls for an early investigation to establish whether the video clip is real or fake. The investigation would also need to establish what the incident was, who the people at play were, when it took place and whether it was related to the law enforcement unit’s killing towards the end of the student-mass uprising that many suspect it to be so. The proposition calls for an investigation even if it is not related to the killing that took place during the student protests. The video clip, said to have been made in the afternoon of August 5 after the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, shows a body was being thrown onto several bodies covered with a poster on the van. A few people in police gear were seen walking around. One of them is said to have been an inspector of the Detective Branch.

An early investigation of what the video clip shows constitutes gross violation of rights. The reason for the investigation is also pressing in view of what happened during the student-mass uprising of July-August in which, more than 650 people were killed, as the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights says, in attacks first by the Awami League front people aided by various law enforcement units and later solely by law enforcers. Although the protests began with public university students first seeking the abolition of the civil service job reservations and later reforms in the process, after mid-July when the protests turned violent, students of private universities, colleges and schools and, finally, ordinary citizens joined in the protests that culminated into the overthrow of 15 years of authoritarian regime of the Awami League. If what the video clip shows is true, this is another glaring instance of rights violation and the ‘use of lethal force’, the UN Human Rights Office describes the events, of the Awami League government and its use of state agencies in its desperate effort to cling to power by quelling rightful protests. Even if the happening that the video clip has captured is not related to the student-mass uprising, the government should still carry out the investigation and act accordingly considering this to be a grave violation of rights by the law enforcement agency.​

 

[Saif]

Students to hold `shaheedi march’ today

Students under the platform of the Student Movement Against Discrimination on Wednesday announced that they would hold the ‘Shaheedi March’ today across the country marking the one-month of ousting of the Awami League government by the student-led mass uprising...

www.newagebd.net

Students to hold `shaheedi march’ today
DU Correspondent 05 September, 2024, 00:05

Students’ Movement Against Discrimination coordinator Sarjis Alam addresses a press conference announcing Shaheedi March for today to remember the martyrs of the movement at the Teachers-Students Centre of Dhaka University on Wednesday. | New Age photo

Students under the platform of the Student Movement Against Discrimination on Wednesday announced that they would hold the ‘Shaheedi March’ today across the country marking the one-month of ousting of the Awami League government by the student-led mass uprising.

They said that they would organise the march in honour of those martyrs who sacrificed their lives during student protests and those injured during the movement.

Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of the movement, announced the programme at a press conference held at the Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University.

Sarjis Alam said that on the occasion of the one-month anniversary of the student-led mass uprising, students would hold a ‘Shaheedi March’.

‘This programme will be observed at all levels, from unions to metropolitan areas, across the country honouring the martyrs,’ he said, adding, ‘We will arrange the event to show our respect for our brothers and sisters killed during the protests and those suffering on hospital beds, as well as those who have lost their limbs, hands, feet, or eyes.’

The ‘Shaheedi March’ in Dhaka will begin at 3:00pm from the Anti-terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus, he said.

The march will parade through Nilkhet, New Market, Kalabagan, Mirpur Road, Manik Mia Avenue, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, and Raju Memorial Sculpture, before ending at the Central Shaheed Minar.

Key Coordinators Hasnat Abdullah, Abu Baker Mojumdar and Mahin Sarkar, among other coordinators, were also present at the press conference.

Hasnat Abdullah said that the AL used to engage in tagging and blaming people whenever someone made a logical demand.

‘In Bangladesh, the AL created a separate religion,’ he said, adding, ‘They introduced “the Awami religion” in clothing, food, and everywhere. Bangabandhu was made a political prophet.’

He also said that those involved in killings would not be spared.

Students under the platform of the Student Movement Against Discrimination began the quota reform movement in July resulting in a student-led mass uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as the prime minister on August 5 and flee to India, where she has now taken shelter.

The interim government’s health adviser Nurjahan Begum told the media on August 28 that more than 1,000 people were killed in the student-led mass uprising.​

 

[Saif]

Govt to honour martyrs of July uprising on Sept 14

The government will honour the martyrs of the students-people uprising on September 14

www.thedailystar.net

Govt to honour martyrs of July uprising on Sept 14

Photo: BSS

The government will honour the martyrs of the students-people uprising on September 14.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Adviser Md Nahid Islam said a commemorative meeting in memory of all the martyrs in the students-people uprising will be organised on September 14, said a press release.

"The government will give the highest honour to the martyrs' families in the commemorative meeting," he said.

"Bangla Blockade", "Complete Shutdown" and "Long March to Dhaka" must be highlighted in the commemoration as those words acted as a tonic in the mass movement, he said, adding that the commemorative meeting will be organised in such a way so that it can create the atmosphere of the July mass movement.

Nahid will work as the focal point of the commemorative meeting.

Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Md Mushfiqur Rahman along with senior officials of the ministry were present in the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

Deaths during student protest: 4 students' bodies exhumed in Feni for autopsies

The bodies of students Ishtiaq Ahmed Shraban, Saidur Rahman Syed, Zakir Hossain Shakil and Md Sabuj, who were killed during the anti-discrimination student’s movement in Feni's Mohipal, have been exhumed for autopsies. Of them, the bodies of Shraban and Syed of Fazilpur Kalatali area of Fulg

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Deaths during student protest: 4 students' bodies exhumed in Feni for autopsies
Published :
Sep 12, 2024 00:01
Updated :
Sep 12, 2024 00:01

The bodies of students Ishtiaq Ahmed Shraban, Saidur Rahman Syed, Zakir Hossain Shakil and Md Sabuj, who were killed during the anti-discrimination student’s movement in Feni's Mohipal, have been exhumed for autopsies.

Of them, the bodies of Shraban and Syed of Fazilpur Kalatali area of Fulgazi Upazila were exhumed on Wednesday while the bodies of Shakil and Sabuj were exhumed on Tuesday on the orders of the court, reports UNB.

Later, the bodies were sent to Feni General Hospital for post-mortem.

On August 4, in support of the non-cooperation movement, the agitators were protesting in the Mohipal area of Feni on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

At the same time, the leaders and activists of Awami League and its allies took a stand on the trunk road of the city.

At around 2pm, when the leaders and activists of Awami League and allied organizations were moving towards Mohipal flyover, a clash broke out between the two groups.

At that moment, the surrounding became shaken by the explosion of shots, cocktails.

Sounds of firing were heard intermittently till 5pm.

At one stage of the clash, the police box of Mohipal was set on fire.

Nine people were killed in this incident and more than 150 people, including students, pedestrians and journalists, were injured by brickbats.​

 

[Saif]

Health ministry forms committee to confirm list of people martyred in popular uprising

The health ministry has directed the field administration to authenticate the list of martyrs and injured victims from the civil uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. An eight-strong committee has been formed to carry out this verification on the ground. A letter signed by Umme Habi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Health ministry forms committee to confirm list of people martyred in popular uprising
bdnews24.com
Published :
Sep 13, 2024 23:25
Updated :
Sep 13, 2024 23:25

The health ministry has directed the field administration to authenticate the list of martyrs and injured victims from the civil uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government.

An eight-strong committee has been formed to carry out this verification on the ground.

A letter signed by Umme Habiba, deputy secretary of the Health Service Division on Friday, outlined that a preliminary list was prepared based on data gathered from health institutions.

The letter said, “A draft list has been created by the Management Information Department of the Directorate General of Health Services. It is crucial to verify this list on the ground.”

The committee will be chaired by the district commissioners and the district civil surgeon will serve as the member-secretary.

It will also include the superintendent of police, Upazila executive officer and two coordinators from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The committee is tasked with verifying the list for accuracy, correcting any discrepancies and ensuring that no valid names are omitted.

They must submit the final, accurate list to the Health Service Division by Oct 14.

The letter specifies that only the names of martyrs and injured who supported the uprising should be included in the final list.

On Aug 15, the health ministry formed a committee to create a list of casualties.

The committee is led by former senior secretary of the Health Services Division Muhammad Humayun Kabir.

Under this committee’s supervision, the Health Directorate's MIS wing prepared the list, which has been submitted as a preliminary report.

According to ICT Advisor Nahid Islam, a total of 728 deaths and 20,263 injuries have been reported. In addition, a private source has provided a list of 800 martyrs, which is currently being verified.

District administrators have been instructed to submit a list from each district, with a final list expected by next Sunday, he added.

A state memorial event to honour the martyrs, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed due to the list being incomplete.​

 

[Saif]

‘At least 422 of the dead belong to the BNP’

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said at least 422 of those killed in the July-August massacre were involved in party politics.

www.thedailystar.net

‘At least 422 of the dead belong to the BNP’
Fakhrul says govt should focus on 4 areas of reform, leave others for elected govt

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said at least 422 of those killed in the July-August massacre were involved in party politics.

"According to various reports, 875 people were killed across Bangladesh until August 13, of whom at least 422 were involved in BNP politics," he said at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.

"There is no scope for underestimating BNP's contribution [in the mass uprising]."

Reading out a statement, Fakhrul said, "It is not an isolated incident that the majority of the martyrs were BNP leaders and activists. It is a result of their long political struggle."

He said beside the student-led uprising, 1,551 BNP activists were killed during the Awami League regime until 2023, while 423 had been forcibly disappeared during the period.

"During this time, six lakh BNP leaders and activists were implicated in 1.5 lakh cases. This reflects the party's unwavering struggle and contribution towards the country's second liberation."

BNP sources said the party collected the names, identities, and addresses of the victims, and the list will be published on the party's official website.

Responding to journalists' questions, the BNP secretary general said preparing the report of Electoral System Reform Commission should not take more than two months. "Complete it within two months…"

In his televised address to the nation on Wednesday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus named Badiul Alam Majumdar as the head of the Electoral System Reform Commission, which is expected to finish its work within the next three months.

In this regard, Fakhrul said election-centric reforms should be given the highest priority.

"The reforms work should be completed quickly to move towards an election. The election will be held under a neutral government. The election will be free and fair. The people will elect their representatives by voting."

Fakhrul also identified the key areas requiring reforms, including the Election Commission, administration, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary.

Other reforms will be carried out by the government that will come to power through polls, he added.

He said, "This interim government will implement reforms based on the opinions of all and then move forward to hold the election. The election will be free and fair, and power will be handed over to the people.

"We hear many responsible political parties saying things that are not very conducive to overall unity.​

"It is important to maintain unity. Be patient. Support all the work of this interim government and try to move forward."

The BNP will tomorrow hold a rally to mark International Democracy Day in front of its Nayapaltan central office at 3:00pm.

Party Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Salahuddin Ahmed were also present at the press conference.

 

[Saif]

Why did Abu Sayeed, fellows, sacrifice lives?

THAT the Awami League had a master plan to capture power forever is discerned from some deplorable incidents that happened just after it assumed office in 2009. The party president, Sheikh Hasina, along with her leaders, did not hesitate even a little to kill our 57 patriotic army officers...

www.newagebd.net

Why did Abu Sayeed, fellows, sacrifice lives?
Mohammad Mozammel Haque 16 September, 2024, 00:00

THAT the Awami League had a master plan to capture power forever is discerned from some deplorable incidents that happened just after it assumed office in 2009. The party president, Sheikh Hasina, along with her leaders, did not hesitate even a little to kill our 57 patriotic army officers. Almost all the party leaders knew about what happened in the Border Guard Bangladesh (then Bangladesh Rifles) headquarters on February 25, 2009. This was the implementation of a pre-planned conspiracy against the army officers. Sheikh Hasina and her people knew well that if they could show off their strength to kill some selected army officers, they would be able to be in power for a long time. And unfortunately, we have seen the outcome of this plot for more than 15 years. From 2009 till the first half of 2024, our army could not play any role for the benefit of general people. This is because after the 57 senior army officers were cruelly murdered by the Awami League heinous gang, the army officers who supported the Awami League were posted into senior positions, and they did everything for keeping this party in power. Even during the July uprising, the army hardly played any positive role in favour of the students at the beginning of the movement. But when our patriotic students did not care about the so-called curfew and they came on the roads in the whole country on 4-5 August, they invited the army to shoot on them (the students); at that time most of the army officers lowered down their arms. Undoubtedly, there are a good number of officers in the Bangladesh Army who do not blindly support the Awami League; rather, they are very patriotic but could not stand against the Awami League for fear of losing their jobs. But this time their role is undoubtedly praiseworthy.

Furthermore, the Sheikh Hasina government displayed a ruthless approach towards suppressing any form of dissent or opposition. Ordinary citizens who attempted to mobilise for political or social causes faced severe repression. Supporters of opposition parties were frequently denied the right to assemble or express their demands. Even informal gatherings, such as marriage ceremonies or birthday parties, were not safe from harassment. Awami League supporters often targeted these events, leading to physical assaults or disruptions by calling the police. Countless incidents illustrate this climate of intimidation and violence. The police, under the Awami League’s influence, arrested opposition figures, sometimes resorting to extrajudicial killings. Many were shot in cold blood, while others were subjected to false and fabricated charges. As a result, opposition leaders and their supporters lived in constant fear, unable to sleep safely in their homes for days, months, or even years. The pervasive climate of fear and repression has severely impacted their ability to participate in political life and advocate for their causes. Moreover, the Awami League recruited thousands of police officers, army officers, and officers in other government and non-government fields only from the families who support this party. In this manner, the AL used the police, army, RAB, and BGB officers to foil any programmes organised by the opposition parties. The opposition parties were not allowed to organise any kind of programmes in the whole country. During their tenure, the AL-led government relied on legal and extralegal forms of repression to suppress its political opposition and dissenting voices. The attackers of Hindu temples, particularly during Durga puja, are often found to be linked with the AL.

In addition, the AL deprived the general people of our country of their voting rights. From 2014 to 2023, the people of Bangladesh could not exercise their right to vote for electing their future leaders. In every election, be it local or national, almost all the people were threatened and hindered from going to voting centres. If anybody has tried to visit the voting centre, s/he has been brutally punished by the supporters of AL although so many dead people have been shown to put their votes. If we go by the record, it appears that the AL is more engaged in violent acts, terrorism — acts that are conventionally blamed the Islamist groups for. It is quite clear that the freedom as well as sovereignty of our beloved country was quite unsafe at the hands of the Awami League. They compromised our sovereign interest, as once stated by Sheikh Hasina, ‘India will never forget me for what I have given to her.’

But, do we really know where our most beloved country is moving forward? Did Shaheed Abu Sayeed and other martyrs sacrifice their lives for a country where there will be corruption, discrimination, lawlessness, anarchy, extortion, exaction, extraction, blackmail, shakedown, and mayhem again? Just after the tragic downfall of an extortionist, coercer, and blackmailer, some other people of various political parties are doing the same as was done by their predecessor. This is undoubtedly a matter of great shock, tremor, and a matter of great shudder for the nation, which is still stained with the blood of thousands of innocent students, children, and general people. People injured during the July uprising are still fighting with death in the hospitals, and these criminals are trying to tarnish what great things have been achieved by these freedom fighters. Is it for seeing this kind of Bangladesh that our great martyrs sacrificed their lives? Of course not.

I think and firmly believe if the current situation persists, the spirit of our July uprsing — whose wounds still remain unhealed — along with students and ordinary citizens from all walks of life, regardless of their political, religious, or professional affiliations, will ignite a powerful revolt against any injustices in the future. The collective will of the people, including those from all communities, is likely to demand and fight for the country’s true independence, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, it is crucial that we stay vigilant and alert to the conspiracies being hatched by those who seek to undermine our nation’s values and freedom.​