An investigation by the daily Prothom Alo, the country\u2019s largest Bengali newspaper and a close aide of Muhammad Yunus, has created a stir by exposing the deliberate efforts of the regime to increase the number of deceased (martyrs) in last year\u2019s anti-government protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the meticulously designed plan to suppress the Awami League, the government is implicating its leaders and workers in false murder cases, where Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sued in over 450 cases, and the Jamaat-controlled International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) is holding fictitious trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report, titled \u201cDeath from land dispute, accidents enlisted as July martyrs\u201d, shows that among the 834 people listed in the government\u2019s gazette, at least 52 do not actually qualify as martyrs. Among them, 35 died in fires, 3 in road accidents, 1 from electrocution, 2 from illness, 4 from killings related to old enmities, disputes, or clashes, and 2 from other causes. In addition, 3 police officers, a Chhatra League leader, and an individual who attacked protesters were also included, though none of them qualify as martyrs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teenager killed in arson attack by protesters also a \u2018July martyr\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another fraud case on the list of \u2018July martyrs\u2019 found in Patuakhali<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Abu Sayed Case: An example of fraudulence, a travesty of justice<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The “Ordinance on Welfare and Rehabilitation of Families of Martyrs and July Fighters, 2025” clearly defines who counts as a July martyr. Those who died during the July Uprising as a result of attacks by law enforcement agencies under the then-government or by members of the ruling party at the time are considered July martyrs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, it was the family members of the deceased who played a role in having their names included in the martyrs\u2019 list. Prothom Alo spoke with 41 families; many admitted their relatives did not die while participating in the July Uprising. Some said they enrolled names in hopes of receiving government compensation, and in some cases, they were persuaded to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n July fraud busted: Saifuddin claims was shot in two cities the same day<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n July Conspiracy: Gazetted lists contain many fake martyrs, injured fighters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n