July fighters and martyr families demand Ishraq Hossain's reinstatement as state minister
July fighters and members of martyr families have demanded the reinstatement of Ishraq Hossain as State Minister for Liberation War Affairs. They made the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday (21 October).
Speakers at the press conference said that if reinstating Ishraq Hossain is not possible, someone qualified, honest, dedicated and experienced who upholds the spirit of the July movement should be appointed to the post. In other words, the demand was not only about one individual; it also stressed ensuring capable leadership in the position.
The press conference was organised by families of those killed in the July mass uprising and those injured in it. It also called for ensuring treatment and rehabilitation of the July injured, establishing the just rights of martyr families, publishing the gazette of the injured and martyr family members, and implementing the July Charter on a legal basis.
Notably, after the President accepted Ishraq Hossain's resignation, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification — a development that had been at the centre of political discussion in the preceding days. Now, with the post vacant, martyr families and July fighters have raised the demand to bring him back.
At the press conference, Rokibul Ahmed, father of martyr Rajabuddin, said rehabilitation, treatment and employment arrangements for those killed and injured in the July movement have still not been fully ensured. Many injured people are still going from door to door for treatment.
He said disappointment has grown among martyr families and the injured because the promised steps have not been implemented. It was against this backdrop of frustration that the demand for reinstatement was raised so strongly, speakers indicated.
Rokibul Ahmed said that while in office, Ishraq Hossain took initiatives to resolve various outstanding problems of martyr families. He also took steps to make the martyrs' graveyard permanent and paved. Work that had not progressed for a long time began moving forward at his initiative.
He added that if Ishraq Hossain does not wish to return to the responsibility voluntarily, then the state minister's duty should go to someone who holds the spirit of the July movement and can understand the suffering of the injured and martyr families. He urged that an educated, ethical, dedicated and experienced person be chosen in that case.
Speakers at the press conference said there should be no classification among the martyrs of the July movement. Instead of giving importance to a few families based on acquaintance or influence, all martyr families must be given equal dignity. Likewise, although the physical injuries of the wounded differ, each of their contributions must be recognised.
The speakers said the main goal of the July movement was to eliminate discrimination and establish a justice-based state. To realise that goal, the proper dignity and rights of the injured and martyr family members must be ensured. They also called for the representation of the July movement not to be limited around any individual or group, but to include all martyr families and injured persons.
The implementation of the July Charter was also raised with importance. The speakers said that although implementation of the charter was promised, they still do not see its effective implementation. They called on the government to give the charter a legal basis and implement it quickly.
Altogether, the message from the press conference was clear: dissatisfaction is growing over the slow implementation of the demands of martyr families and the injured, and at the centre of that dissatisfaction now sits the vacant post of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs. Political attention will now be on what decision the government takes in response to this demand.
