One of the most contentious issues surrounding the July–August 2024 events in Bangladesh is the actual number of people who died and the process used to compile the official list of martyrs. Over time, the government, political organizations, international bodies, and media outlets have all published different casualty figures, raising a fundamental question: How many people actually died, and how accurate is the government's July Martyrs Gazette? Question: Why is there so much confusion over the death toll? Answer: Different stakeholders have reported significantly different figures. On September 4, 2024, then Information Adviser Nahid Islam claimed that 800 people had been killed during the movement. Later, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement said the death toll had reached 1,581. On April 3, 2025, coordinator Sarjis Alam stated that 1,000 people had died, while on the same day coordinator Hasnat Abdullah claimed the figure exceeded 1,400. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported that up to 1,400 people may have been killed between July 1 and August 15, 2024. In contrast, Prothom Alo reported that 767 people may have died between July 16 and November 17, 2024. These conflicting figures have become the central source of controversy. Question: What is the biggest inconsistency among these figures? Answer: None of the published lists clearly identifies how many people died before August 5, who was allegedly killed by state security forces, and who died later under different circumstances. As a result, although multiple casualty figures have been presented, the methodology behind them remains unclear. Question: What have intelligence sources and independent investigations claimed? Answer: According to several intelligence sources, the number of deaths reported before August 5 was exaggerated. In addition, investigations conducted in recent months by newspapers, journalists, retired police officers, and private investigative groups have alleged that many individuals included in the July Martyrs Gazette died only after Sheikh Hasina had left office following the change of government. Question: What allegations have been made regarding the preparation of the Gazette? Answer: Critics allege that the Gazette included individuals without proper verification—or even deliberately included people whose deaths were unrelated to the quota movement or occurred accidentally or under other circumstances after August 5, 2024. If these allegations are accurate, they raise serious questions about the credibility of the Gazette. Question: What is the controversy surrounding the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) investigation? Answer: Critics claim that, with the cooperation of the Ministries of Law, Health, and Home Affairs under the interim government, the ICT prosecution team made extensive efforts to portray the July–August killings as genocide and, in the process, supplied distorted or incomplete information to the UN Human Rights Office. The authorities concerned have not accepted these allegations, and their official position remains a matter of public record. Question: Why has the UN report also come under scrutiny? Answer: According to critics, the UN Human Rights Office published its assessment that up to 1,400 people may have been killed without independently verifying all the information it received. The report also stated that an ICT judgment could not automatically be treated as evidence in a court of law. Consequently, many observers argue that the report alone cannot establish the exact number of fatalities. Question: Has the actual death toll still not been established? Answer: Based on the information currently available, it is still not possible to determine with certainty how many students associated with the quota movement were killed, how many deaths occurred before August 5, and how many took place afterward under different circumstances. These fundamental questions remain unanswered. Question: Why is the sniper controversy significant? Answer: Former interim Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain has repeatedly stated that the police did not possess 7.62 mm ammunition or sniper rifles. He has alleged that unidentified snipers using long-range weapons were responsible for many of the shootings. In contrast, the UN Human Rights Office reported that most of the July–August deaths resulted from 7.62 mm sniper ammunition. The apparent contradiction between these accounts has intensified calls for further investigation. Question: Why does the death of "Water Boy" Mugdha remain controversial? Answer: The death of Mugdha, widely known during the movement as the "Water Boy," remains unresolved. Some analyses have claimed that video footage appears to show him being struck by a long-range shot while police officers were positioned at a considerable distance. However, no final or universally accepted investigative report has yet been published regarding the circumstances of his death. Question: What is the central issue at the heart of this controversy? Answer: The fundamental question is whether the identity, date of death, cause of death, and connection to the July movement of every individual listed in the July Martyrs Gazette were independently and impartially verified. The conflicting casualty figures, allegations surrounding the Gazette, the sniper controversy, and the limitations of existing international assessments have together strengthened calls for a transparent, independent, and credible investigation.

Author: Dr. Abul Hasnat Milton, Editor-in-Chief, The Source News Bangla