Court orders exhumation of 114 bodies of July Uprising victims for identification

The move aims to confirm the identities of victims through DNA and complete legal handover to families

A Dhaka court has ordered the exhumation of 114 bodies buried as unidentified victims of last year’s Anti-discrimination Student Movement, to confirm their identities and enable legal procedures.

The order was issued on Monday by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman in response to a petition filed by Mohammadpur Police Sub-Inspector Md Mahidul Islam.

Additional Public Prosecutor Md Shamsuddoha Suman said the victims, men and women of various ages, died during different phases of the movement. Their bodies were buried at the Rayer Bazar graveyard as unidentified.

The petition noted that postmortem reports had already been prepared, and and DNA samples were now required for identification.

Once identities are confirmed, the bodies could be formally handed over to families based on legal procedure and requests.

After reviewing the case documents, the magistrate granted the application and directed the Dhaka district magistrate to appoint an executive magistrate and ensure necessary arrangements.