Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) on Saturday said the government has initiated steps to identify the remains of 114 victims of the July uprising buried in the Rayerbazar mass grave.
“We have begun the process of identifying the bodies. Once confirmed, the families may decide whether to leave the remains there or move them elsewhere,” he told reporters while visiting the graveyard in the morning, according to a state-run BSS news agency report.
The adviser said the families of the deceased, who were initially reluctant, are now cooperating with the authorities in the identification process. “This graveyard holds a mass grave of 114 people whose identities remain unconfirmed,” he said.
Jahangir Alam also offered prayers for the salvation of the departed souls.
Raising concerns over irregularities in the construction work of the graveyard, the adviser expressed disappointment at the poor quality of bricks and gravel used in the site’s development.
“It is disheartening to see corruption even in the construction of graves for those who gave their lives for the country. This cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.
He called on journalists to expose such corruption and warned that those responsible would be brought to justice. Earlier in the day, the adviser also visited Mohammadpur Police Station.