There come moments in the pages of history that completely transform a nation's long-standing beliefs, emotions, and political trajectory. The July 2024 uprising and subsequent political events represent an extraordinarily controversial and sensitive chapter in the history of Bangladesh. The fog surrounding the casualty lists, the intricacies of political power dynamics, and the mortality statistics of ordinary citizens—all together—have left a massive question mark in the minds of the general public. Was 'July' truly a mass awakening, or does another political calculus lie hidden beneath its surface? 1. Casualty Statistics and the Fog Surrounding the Lists Debates have persisted from the beginning regarding the data released about loss of life during and after the movement: • UN Preliminary Report vs. Ground Reality: While the preliminary UN report initially mentioned 1,400 fatalities, it was later revised down to 841. • Intelligence Agency Verification: According to the National Security Intelligence (NSI), the names and exact dates of death have been definitively verified for only 314 individuals. • Geographical Concentration: Although 324 deaths were reported across just five specific areas of Dhaka (Uttara: 70+, Mirpur: 62, Rampura: 32, Jatrabari: 117), complete identification and proper post-mortem reports for this list remain unclear. • Unidentified Bodies: Out of 114 bodies buried at Rayerbazar labeled as 'July Warriors', relatives of only 9 have been identified over the last two years. The inability to trace the families of the remaining 105 raises profound questions at both state and societal levels. 2. The August 5 and 6 Death Toll: In Whose Interest Was This Bloodshed? An analysis of reports from top national news outlets, including Prothom Alo, reveals that the nature of fatalities and political identities involved were highly complex: • Violence of August 5 & 6: Out of the 36 days of the movement, 215 people lost their lives in the final two days alone (August 5 and 6). Questions arise: after the head of government fled the country, at whose hands and for what purpose were such a vast number of people killed? • Political Identity of the Deceased: According to available data, among the deceased, only 23 were students and 12 were BNP activists. Conversely, 87 ruling party (Awami League) activists and 36 police personnel lost their lives. • The Power Equation: Despite controlling the state machinery and law enforcement, how the government side's casualties (123 individuals) ended up being several times higher than the opposition's (35 individuals) remains a major political riddle. 3. Silent Cries of Children and Loss of Innocent Lives When politics turns violent, the ultimate victims are innocent civilians and children: • Child Casualties and Mystery: Nearly 70 tender lives, including children who had not yet reached an age to understand complex political equations, perished in the movement. • Non-partisan and Unaffiliated Victims: 168 individuals in the total count had no political affiliation. The faces behind the indiscriminate firing and violence targeting these innocent people remain unmasked to this day. 4. Post-Transition Governance and the Outline of a New Authoritarianism The current economic and law-enforcement landscape paints a grim picture regarding how capable post-movement governance has been in restoring order: • Mob Violence and Impunity: Following the shift in power, a culture of extrajudicial killings and suppressing political opponents under the guise of 'mob justice' has emerged, threatening the very existence of the judiciary in a democratic state. • Recent Violence: In recent times, internal and inter-party clashes among political groups continue to result in numerous casualties. Newspaper reports indicate that innocent civilians and political workers are constantly losing their lives to political feuds and public lynchings. • Public Health Catastrophe: Due to administrative paralysis, the routine immunization program has been severely disrupted, leaving thousands of children vulnerable to and dying from preventable diseases like measles—a scenario that is not merely an administrative failure, but a humanitarian disaster. 5. Was 'July' Drama or a New Game for Power? Ordinary citizens who believe in the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War contend that an effort is underway to implement a specific political agenda by setting aside the long history of the independence struggle. A significant segment of political analysts believes that this power shift occurred through collusion between various international geopolitical interests and domestic interest groups. Nature's Judgment is Inevitable History forgives no one. Taking advantage of temporary political opportunities may blind the public eye for a brief moment, but it is impossible to suppress the truth forever. A nation born through the great Liberation War of 1971 will inevitably withstand the blows and rise again. Pseudo-politics conducted in the name of the people, a culture of impunity, and a throne of power built on the blood of innocents can never endure. Those who consider themselves victors in this struggle for political power today must inevitably face the law of nature—the "Retribution of Nature." The resurrection of truth and the spontaneous resurgence of the people will be the ultimate and inevitable destiny of this country's politics.

Author: A. K. Abdul Momen, Politician, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs