The identities of eight previously unidentified martyrs have been confirmed after 18 months as part of an ongoing programme to exhume and identify victims of the July 2024 mass uprising.
A total of 114 unidentified bodies were exhumed from Rayerbazar graveyard in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, where autopsies were conducted and DNA samples collected under a court order and the supervision of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. Using DNA profiling, CID successfully matched samples from nine families, confirming the identities of eight martyrs. The identification of one more body is still in progress.
The disclosure was made on Monday (January 5) by CID Chief and Additional Inspector General of Police Md Shibgat Ullah at a programme titled “Identification of Unidentified Martyrs’ Bodies” held at Rayerbazar graveyard. After identification, the graves were formally handed over to the families, many of whom were overcome with emotion.
The identified martyrs are: Kabil Hossain (58) of Madartek, Dhaka; Sohel Rana (38) of Mohammadpur, Dhaka; Asadullah (31) of Sherpur; Rafiqul Islam (29) of Feni; Mahim (32) of Mymensingh; Faisal Sarker (26) of Cumilla; Rafiqul Islam (52) of Pirojpur; and Parvez Bepari (23) of Chandpur.
The event was attended by Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk-e-Azam, Local Government Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, and Special Assistant to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, among others.
During the mass uprising, many victims killed across Dhaka were buried as unidentified at Rayerbazar graveyard. Following demands from families and in the interest of justice, authorities initiated the exhumation and identification process. The CID was assigned overall responsibility to ensure international standards, with support from the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The exhumation began on December 7 under the guidance of internationally renowned forensic anthropologist Dr Luis Fondebrider. The entire process—exhumation, DNA sampling, profiling and reburial—was conducted in line with the Minnesota Protocol, an internationally recognised guideline for investigating potentially unlawful deaths. All 114 bodies were exhumed and sampled between December 7 and December 27 at a temporary morgue set up at the graveyard.
