The official gazette released by Bangladesh’s former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in July 2024, listing individuals killed during protests, is facing criticism for allegedly including unrelated deaths. A recent report by ‘Northeast News’ highlighted that the “July Martyrs Gazette” was expanded to encompass deaths not linked to the anti-quota protests or political turmoil that ousted the Awami League government.
An investigation by independent journalists and retired police officers revealed that the gazette wrongly attributed deaths to the former government. The report emphasized that the definition of a “July martyr” only includes individuals killed due to state attacks or law enforcement actions during the quota reform movement until the government’s fall on August 5, 2024.
The investigation pointed out that the qualifying period for recognition as a July martyr ended with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure. It noted that the gazette included individuals who died after August 5 from causes unrelated to the protests. The report alleged coordinated attacks on police establishments following Hasina’s exit, leading to the inclusion of unrelated deaths in the gazette.
According to the report, the official list incorporated deaths from various unrelated incidents, such as road accidents, mob assaults, and property disputes. The investigation team found that nearly 300 deaths after August 5, 2024, were included in the gazette, falsely attributing responsibility to the previous government.
