DU Correspondent :
A total of 1,581 people have lost their lives, and at least 31,000 have been injured in the recent student-led mass uprising, according to preliminary data released by the Central Sub-Committee on Health Affairs.
“We have compiled a preliminary list of casualties based on available information, which will be finalized and published on the ministry’s website after further verification by ground committees led by DCs and student representatives,” said Tarikul Islam, Member Secretary of the Central Sub-Committee on Health, during a press conference at Dhaka University on Sunday.
Nasir Uddin Patwary, Convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, added that the number of casualties might change following further verification. “There are some duplicate names in both the ministry’s and sub-committee’s lists.
Additionally, there have been reports of deaths involving individuals not directly linked to the movement, which requires careful investigation. We do not wish to declare anyone as a martyr unless thoroughly verified,” he explained.
The sub-committee clarified that their initial list was created after a primary cross-check of death reports. On September 21, the sub-committee had initially reported 1,423 deaths linked to the movement, a figure that has since risen to 1,581 in their latest update.
The preliminary list of fatalities from the anti-discrimination student movement across the country was compiled through joint efforts between the Central Sub-Committee on Health and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, according to Tarikul.
He also acknowledged the support of several organizations, stating, “As-Sunnah Foundation, Human Rights Support Society, Red July, and others have assisted us in preparing this list.”
The committee plans to ensure the accuracy and transparency of the list, with a final version to be released once all investigations and verifications are complete.