July uprising: Call for forming commission to ensure justice, heal mental trauma of victims
Speakers at a roundtable today (9 March) called for the formation of a 'Truth and Healing Commission (THC)' as part of ensuring justice for the violence and killings during the 2024 July uprising and taking steps to heal the mental trauma of victims.
Stating that it is not enough to just prosecute the perpetrators of July violence, the speakers emphasised overall well being and compensation for the victims.
The International Institute of Law and Diplomacy (IILD) and Bangladesh 2.0 Initiative jointly organised the roundtable at a conference hall in the Faculty of Business Studies at Dhaka University.
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In the keynote address, Professor Tatsushi Ara of Kent State University explained the concepts of truth and healing and offered practical advice for the commission.
Speaking at the event, human rights activist Shahidul Alam said victims in the uprising want justice, which requires a national dialogue and the creation of a specific framework to bring out their stories.
Huma Khan, senior human rights adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator Bangladesh Office, said only a part of the government changed after the uprising, and called for broader changes in the police and judiciary.
Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Tazrian Akram moderated the event. Barrister Imran Abdullah, BNP leader Hummam Quader Chowdhury, and Activist Ali Ahsan Junaid also spoke on the occasion among others.
