Fake July Martyr claims to face jail, fine

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain on Tuesday warned that anyone attempting to fraudulently secure gazette status for July uprising martyrs would face up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Tk10 lakh, as the government accelerates efforts to officially recognise all genuine martyrs.

Speaking to reporters after meeting families of July uprising martyrs in Jatrabari in the capital, Ishraque said the government would take strict legal action against anyone trying to obtain official recognition through forged or misleading documents.

“If anyone tries to deceive the state to get enlisted, strict legal action will be taken against them,” he said.

The state minister said the government is taking steps to quickly gazette all July uprising martyrs who have not yet been officially recognised. He added that concerns raised by the victims’ families had been noted and that necessary measures would be taken to address them.

According to Ishraque, the matter has also been discussed in parliament. He alleged that the previous interim government had failed to fulfil its responsibilities properly.

“Had it performed its duties properly, we would not have faced such difficulties in determining the number of martyrs even two years later, nor would the current situation have arisen,” he said.

The minister said initiatives have already been taken to ensure that everyone martyred during the July movement, but not yet listed or gazetted, is included in the official records.

Referring to Matuail Graveyard, Ishraque said 17 July uprising martyrs were buried there, but their graves have neither been made permanent nor properly developed.

He also said no permanent allocation has yet been made for their preservation.

“Although the interim government allocated funds across the country for the permanent preservation and development of martyrs’ graves, irregularities and corruption have been observed in the implementation,” he alleged.

The ministry has already collected the necessary information on the graves, he said.

“These graves will be made permanent, developed and preserved. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will take the necessary steps as quickly as possible,” he added.

Ishraque said the process of identifying and gazetting genuine July martyrs would continue, but stressed that no one would be allowed to obtain gazette status through forged or fraudulent documents.

He revealed that after assuming office, he personally cancelled 12 gazette notifications following investigations.

“The investigations found that those individuals were not martyred while participating in the July movement. Rather, they were aligned with the fascist regime and members of law enforcement agencies. Their gazette status was therefore cancelled,” he said.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs is continuing the verification process to officially recognise those who were killed during the July uprising, while reviewing disputed cases and taking legal action against fraudulent claims for martyr status.