Bodies of two July martyrs exhumed after four months
Families say they received no assistance from govt
Police in Barishal have exhumed the bodies of two individuals, who were reportedly killed during the mass uprising in July, for autopsy after their families finally filed murder cases over their deaths.
The Criminal Investigation Department exhumed the bodies on Thursday after a case was filed with a Narayanganj police station as the victims were killed there, said their family members.
The deceased are Rakib from Jambudwip village in Banaripara upazila of Barishal and Shahin of Hizla upazila's Govindpur village.
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Their bodies were taken to the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College today (30 November).
Speaking to the media in front of the hospital, Rakib's uncle Nurul Huq said, "Rakib was killed in police firing in Narayanganj on 21 July. We did not have any money at the time and had to take loans to hire an ambulance to bring his body home. He was the only earning member of his family. The family has lost everything."
He also alleged, "No one from the government has come to see us so far. We've heard that student leaders visited Barishal and provided many families with Tk5 lakh each as assistance. But they did not come to us, did not even ask how this family is doing."
Shahin's father Hasan said his son was killed in police firing on the Chittagong Road in Narayangan on 20 July. "We brought his body back and gave him a funeral. No one contacted us about his death, let alone providing assistance.
"Shahin was my eldest son. We have lost everything after his death. The last government killed my son and the current government ignored us."
Jahangir Hossain, Hizla upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), said Shahin's name was added to the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation's list of mass uprising victims, whose families were provided assistance.
"I am not sure why they did not get the assistance. We are trying to make sure they get the assistance as soon as possible," he said.
Meanwhile, TBS could not reach Banaripara UNO over the phone to seek his comment regarding Rakib's family's allegations.
Members of the CID also could not be reached for their comments.
