Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman today called on all Members of Parliament to behave responsibly when speaking in the National Parliament, amid a heated exchange over the number of martyrs in the July uprising.
“When we speak while standing in the National Parliament, our words should reflect responsible behaviour,” he said during the Sunday evening session.
The opposition leader was responding to earlier remarks by State Minister for Shipping Md Rajib Hasan, who had strongly criticised information provided by Shafiqur Rahman regarding the number of July uprising martyrs.
The state minister questioned how the opposition leader could claim at an event on 14 April to have visited the homes of 1,200 martyrs, when the government gazette has finalised a list of 844 martyrs and various sources including the Ministry of Health have mentioned a maximum of 1,400 martyrs. He referred to this as a new distortion of history and an attempt at “martyr business.”
Opposition leader’s response
In response, Shafiqur Rahman said, “I have not said anything inauthentic. We have a complete profile regarding this matter. Many present here have received that profile. It is available on our website. We prepared the lists only after confirming through checks and cross-checks.”
He further stated, “Regarding this matter, it is not my word, nor a quote from any organisation in this country; the United Nations Human Rights Fact-Finding Committee has said the number is 1,451.”
Concern over unaccounted victims
The opposition leader also expressed concern about those whose deaths remain unrecorded. “When I go to different places, some people come up to me; they look at my face. Then they ask whether I have any news about their father or not. Those who were killed and disappeared during those two days when the internet was shut down, no one is providing their account. That number is even higher,” he said.
He concluded by reiterating his call for responsibility, saying, “When we speak while standing in the National Parliament, we must be careful that our words are responsible.”
