More than a year after day-labourer Abul Hossain was killed and his body burned on 5 August 2024 in Ashulia during July movement, his family says his name has still not been enlisted in the official list of July martyrs.
The circumstance left the family without state aid and sinking them into financial despair.
Abul was one of six victims whose bodies were stacked on a van and set on fire near Ashulia Police Station on 5 August 2024. The video went viral on social media a few days later, which shocked the nation.
DNA tests later confirmed his identity.
The International Crimes Tribunal recently sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Abdullah Al-Mamun to death for the killing and burning of the six men.
But despite the tribunal recognising Abul Hossain as among the victims, the government’s updated gazette, published in January 2025, did not include his name.
His widow, Laki Akter, says she has been assured repeatedly that the inclusion would come ‘in the next list,’ yet nothing has changed.
“My husband’s body was identified through DNA almost a year ago. I testified before the tribunal as a martyr’s wife,” she told TIMES.
“Still, his name is not in the official list. Without that, we cannot access the government assistance meant for martyr families,” Lucky lamented.
Laki says she has visited multiple offices including July Foundation, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the secretariat and even the DC office, submitting every required document.
“Everyone said it would be done soon. But month after month, nothing happens,” she said.
Since Abul’s disappearance on 5 August 2024, life has been a struggle for Laki and her two sons 12-year-old Mahid and 20-month-old Safwan, who still cannot walk due to untreated medical complications.
“I am constantly running to doctors and healers for the baby. We received Tk2 lakh from the Cumilla district administration, Tk50,000 from the local BNP and Tk30,000 from Jamaat. That money is spent long ago.”
The family’s frustration has deepened as administrative progress stalls.
Although the tribunal ordered Dhaka district administration to exhume Abul’s remains from Ashulia’s Ambagan graveyard and formally hand them to the family and separately instructed his inclusion in the July martyrs’ list, neither has happened.
Outgoing Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Tanvir Ahmed told reporters earlier that his office had received the tribunal’s documents and would take action ‘very soon’.
He was transferred before doing so. Repeated calls to the new DC, Rezaul Karim, went unanswered.
Tribunal prosecutor Mizanul Islam confirmed that the court issued directives after Laki filed her application. July movement leaders have also expressed anger over the delay.
Voice of July President Mostafa Kamal Mukul said he was ‘deeply disappointed’, but hopeful.
‘I am working to ensure Abul Hossain’s name is included in the next gazette,’ he said.
A member of the health ministry’s medical team, Billal Hossain, said there was ‘no reason’ for Abul’s exclusion.
“A decision has already been taken at the highest level to include his name in the upcoming gazette,” he noted.
