The issue was discussed in detail at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on Sunday (August 23). Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, MP, chaired the meeting. State Minister Ishraq Hossain, MP, and Ministry Secretary Md. Ashraful Islam were also present.
At the meeting, the minister said the “July Mass Uprising Directorate” had been established to provide state recognition to those affected by the July mass uprising. Similarly, the government wants to officially recognise the sacrifices of those who suffered enforced disappearance, killings, extrajudicial executions, torture, disability or false cases during prolonged movements and struggles for the restoration of democracy.
He said the initiative aims to establish a permanent mechanism of resistance so that no force can deprive people of their democratic rights in the future and no family has to endure the brutality of losing loved ones.
State Minister Ishraq Hossain said the core ideals of the Liberation War were the freedom to live with dignity, protection of human rights and establishment of a democratic state system. He said the state has a responsibility towards those who sacrificed their lives, were forcibly disappeared, tortured or financially ruined while fighting to establish these ideals.
The meeting also held policy-level discussions on establishing the new directorate, enacting legislation to ensure the rights and compensation of victims and their families, and amending Schedule-I (Allocation of Business) of the “Rules of Business, 1996.”
The participants placed emphasis on conducting the initiative in line with the United Nations’ “Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation” and the Constitution of Bangladesh.
Senior officials and representatives from the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Employment, and other relevant ministries and divisions attended the meeting.
