Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government has formulated a work plan and begun activities to prepare a comprehensive list of those martyred in the 1971 Liberation War.
He made the statement while responding to a question from Member of Parliament Md Ruhul Amin Dulal during the second and first budget session of the 13th National Parliament. The House sat at 3pm with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.
Md Ruhul Amin Dulal asked whether the government would prepare a list of those martyred in the Liberation War and victims of genocide, publish the correct number of martyr families, and compile an accurate list of genocide victims. He also asked when such an initiative would begin.
In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said: “Countless people became victims of genocide during our Liberation War. But even after so many years of independence, it has not been possible to prepare an accurate and comprehensive list of them. Yet it is through their sacrifice that we achieved our desired independence.”
He said: “Realizing the importance of the matter, the present government pledged in its election manifesto to prepare a comprehensive list of those martyred in the Liberation War based on in-depth research.”
The prime minister said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs had already undertaken several initiatives to implement that commitment. These include holding meetings with Liberation War researchers, preparing a detailed and practical work plan through discussions with stakeholders, and launching activities based on that plan.
He said implementing these initiatives would make it possible to prepare an accurate and acceptable list of genocide victims and all Liberation War martyrs while ensuring proper recognition of their sacrifices.