In her maiden speech in parliament today, reserved-seat MP Rokeya Begum spoke of her anguish as a mother who lost her son in the July Uprising and called for visible justice for those killed during the movement.
Recalling the final moments of her son, Jabir Ibrahim, one of the uprising’s youngest martyrs, she delivered an emotional account of loss, demanded accountability for those responsible, and said the sacrifices of July 2024 must never be forgotten.
“On August 5, my little son, Jabir Ibrahim, was shot and embraced martyrdom after suffering severe blood loss. Honourable Speaker, when I saw him, his face had turned pale. Not a drop of blood seemed to remain in his body; it had all been spilled on this soil,” she said.
“This parliament stands on the blood of countless martyrs like my son and the cries of the nation’s wounded children.
“What every father and mother truly wants is justice for the killing of their child. Without visible justice, fascism cannot be fully eradicated. We demand that the present government ensure justice for every killing during the July mass uprising,” she said.
Referring to proceedings in parliament, she noted that on June 21, during the question-and-answer session, the law minister said that 80 cases had been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal over crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising of 2024. Of these, seven verdicts had been delivered, 22 cases are under testimony, and 51 remain under investigation.“In nearly two years, only seven verdicts have been delivered, which shows how slowly the process is moving,” she said. “I demand that the law minister update parliament in every session on the progress of the cases involving the martyrs, so that we, as parents, can be reassured,” she added.
She further said the number of July martyrs exceeded 1,000, yet only 834 had so far been gazetted, while another 50 martyrs were yet to be listed. She called for adequate allocation to ensure proper investigation and gazette recognition of both injured July warriors and martyrs.
She also highlighted the condition of the injured. “July fighters who lost limbs are suffering because they are not being placed in the correct category and are not receiving proper services,” she said.
“How can a fighter who lost his hand in the movement remain in the ‘G’ category? I demand a fair investigation into this matter.”
Rokeya Begum also referred to the July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation, describing it as the institution that has supported affected families from the beginning through financial aid, medical care, rehabilitation, mental health services, and memory preservation. She said Tk 120 crore has so far been distributed among martyr families and injured fighters.
However, she added that in the last three months, the foundation’s staff had not received salaries or Eid bonuses, leaving those who support the families themselves in crisis. She demanded necessary allocation and financial support for the institution.
She further said that “fugitive fascist forces” were active both online and offline in attempts to erase the memory of July, including issuing threats and burning memorials.
While July fighters had been given legal protection, she said they had not been given political protection, and sought a clear directive from the law minister on the issue.
Following her speech, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman made a statement under Rule 300, saying, “The words of a martyr’s mother embody the spirit of our consciousness, our blood, our revolution, and our struggle.”
He said legal protection had been given to July fighters and to July Uprising itself, adding that every law was a political document and a form of public policy.
“Our government — the BNP government, the government of July fighters, the government of the July spirit — has given that protection within the legal framework. That protection will be considered political protection,” the law minister said.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/the-parliament-watch/parliament/news/only-7-verdicts-nearly-2-years-mp-and-july-martyrs-mother-questions-pace-justice-4206431
