Govt moves to recognise unlisted July uprising injured as ‘July Fighters’

The government has moved to grant state recognition to people injured during the July 2024 mass uprising who have not yet been included in the official gazette as ‘July Fighters’.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has directed the authorities concerned to publish a public notice inviting applications from injured participants seeking inclusion in the official list, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

“Applications will be invited from those who sustained injuries during the movement, received hospital treatment or are still undergoing treatment but have not been gazetted as July fighters,” said a letter issued by the ministry's July Mass Uprising Wing on November 10.

The letter said 842 people were martyred during the uprising. So far, the government has gazetted 990 injured participants under Category A, 1,014 under Category B and 11,964 under Category C to ensure their state recognition, welfare and rehabilitation.

Applications from 931 injured people remain pending at the upazila and district levels, while many others across the country have yet to be included in the official list despite sustaining injuries during the uprising, it added.

The letter recalled that on February 10, the last working day of the previous government, all deputy commissioners (DCs) were instructed not to forward new applications for inclusion in the lists of July martyrs and fighters until further directives.

As a result, applications submitted to various upazila and district offices could not be forwarded to the ministry for further action, the letter said.

Applicants will have to submit their national identity cards or birth registration certificates, permanent and present addresses, and relevant documents as proof of injuries sustained during the uprising.

Their eligibility for inclusion in the official list will be assessed based on the information and supporting documents submitted.

The letter, signed by Deputy Secretary Dr Md Zahirul Islam, requested the Director General of the July Mass Uprising Directorate and all deputy commissioners to publish the public notice on their respective office websites.

The initiative is expected to give previously unlisted injured participants an opportunity to secure state recognition, the press release added.