Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (Monday) released the names and addresses of eight martyrs of the July Uprising-2024 after confirming their identities through DNA profiling and forensic examination.

The bodies were exhumed from Rayerbazar Graveyard as part of a state-led initiative to identify unnamed victims.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik; Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Health and Family Welfare Ministry Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Ishrat Chowdhury, CID Chief Md. Sibgat Ullah and relatives of July martyrs were present on the occasion.

The eight identified martyrs are:

Md. Mahin Mia (25), son of Gazi Mamud and Josna Begum of Phulpur village, Phulpur Thana, Mymensingh. He died on July 18, 2024.

Asadullah, son of Abdul Malek and Ashea Begum of Sribordi, Sherpur. He died on July 19, 2024.

Parvez Bepari, son of Sabuj Bepari and Shamsunnahar of Barohatia village, Matlab Thana, Chandpur. He died on July 19, 2024.
Rafiqul Islam, son of late Abdul Jabbar Sikder of Satkachina village, Nazirpur Thana, Pirojpur. He died on July 19, 2024.

Sohel Rana, son of Md. Lal Mia and Rasheda Begum of Louhjang, Munshiganj. He died in July 18 2024.

Rafiqul Islam, son of late Khorshed Alam of Feni Sadar, Feni. He died on July 19, 2024.

Faisal Sarkar, son of Shafiqul Islam of Kachimara village, Debidwar Thana, Cumilla. He died on July 22, 2024.

Kabil Hossain (58), son of late Bulu Mia and Shamena Begum, a resident of Mugda Thana Lane, Dhaka. He died on August 2, 2024.

Speaking on the occasion Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam said as a result of this identification, the families of the martyrs can at least know what happened to their loved ones and where they are buried.

After being identified, the graves of the martyrs were handed over to their close relatives, and a tree sapling was planted there.

Paying tributes to the martyrs, Adilur Rahman Khan said during the turbulent period, the bodies of many women and men who were killed in different parts of Dhaka were buried as unidentified persons at the Rayerbazar graveyard.

“It’s the responsibility of the state to be confirmed about the identity of the martyrs to honour them. As part of this science-based initiatives were taken to identify the unnamed martyrs,” he said.

He said that in carrying out this difficult and sensitive task, the CID forensic and medical teams and other concerned worked with the utmost professionalism and dedication.

“On this day, we pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls of all those martyrs and express our deepest sympathy and respect to their families. We pledge and pray to the Almighty Allah that the souls of the martyrs may rest in peace,” he added.

Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman said, “I believe this is part of the state’s duty. I hope that the interim government and future governments will ensure the expected justice for the martyrs, thereby fulfilling the nation’s debt to their families”.

Name plaques installed at the grave in memory of the martyrs were inaugurated on the occasion and advisers attended a munajat and doa offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.

According to the CID, DNA samples collected from nine families, resulting the successful identification of eight martyrs.

The identification process for the remaining bodies is going on, he said.

The CID stated that the entire operation was conducted in accordance with the law, human rights principles and international standards, ensuring dignity, transparency and credibility.

The initiative has helped remove uncertainty for families of the missing martyrs while preserving crucial forensic evidence for future judicial proceedings.

Unidentified bodies of several male and female martyrs killed in different parts of Dhaka during the July Uprising were buried at Rayerbazar Graveyard.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs assigned overall supervision of the programme to the CID of Bangladesh Police.

Internationally renowned forensic expert Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz provided training to CID forensic, DNA and medical teams through a two-day workshop.

The exhumation and identification process was carried out under the leadership of another international forensic expert, Dr. Luis Fondebrider, with assistance from the UN Human Rights Commission and in line with the Minnesota Protocol.

After obtaining court permission following a general diary filed with Mohammadpur Police Station, a total of 114 bodies were exhumed, autopsied and sampled for DNA analysis.

A temporary morgue was set up at Rayerbazar Graveyard, where forensic activities were conducted from December 7 to December 27, 2025.

CID officials said the process of identifying the remaining bodies will continue until all possible victims are identified and returned to their families with dignity.