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A contentious debate erupted in the Bangladeshi parliament, as highlighted by The Daily Star, concerning the precise number of martyrs from the pivotal July uprising. The exchange between Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman and State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan underscored a significant discrepancy between the official gazette, which lists 844 martyrs, and claims made by opposition figures suggesting numbers exceeding 1,000 or even 1,400.

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We need to know the actual number. If you did visit, no objection... But we want the actual figure. The July uprising happened only recently, not decades ago. If memories fade now, then in 10 or 20 years this history will be distorted.

Minister Ahsan questioned the opposition leader's assertion of visiting 1,200 homes out of a purported 1,400 martyrs, given the government's official figure. He raised concerns about the potential for historical distortion and the commercialization of the Liberation War's spirit, stressing the urgent need for an accurate and verifiable count. The minister pointed to the recent nature of the event, emphasizing that memory should not fade so quickly, and warned against creating new narratives for personal gain.

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If the (state) minister’s claim of the number of July martyrs is just over 800 -- then how could I have visited 1,200 homes?

In response, the Opposition Leader defended his statements, citing comprehensive profiles and cross-checked lists available on their website. He also referenced a statement from the State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, who reportedly mentioned over 1,000 martyrs from specific political affiliations, suggesting internal inconsistencies within the government's narrative. This parliamentary clash reflects a deeper struggle over historical memory and its political implications in Bangladesh, a struggle The Daily Star continues to report on.

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Secondly, I did not utter anything fabricated. We have a complete profile on this matter, and many present here have received that profile. It is available on our website. Only after thorough checking and cross-checking did we prepare these lists.