Bangladesh tribunal says bodies of July 2024 uprising victims were dumped in river near Dhaka

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal says investigators have found evidence that the bodies of many people killed during the July 2024 uprising were dumped into a river near Dhaka. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam made the claim after visiting the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Rayerbazar, where he also said some unidentified bodies were buried. The remarks add a new layer to the accountability process surrounding the unrest that shook the country last year.

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Islam said several hospitals did not follow rules requiring the registration of bodies and instead disposed of them as unclaimed remains. He added that in some cases families were allowed to bury relatives without inquest reports, post-mortem examinations or official registration. According to his briefing, investigators are now trying to identify the then authorities of the hospital involved, as well as others linked to the alleged concealment of bodies.

The prosecutor said around 1,400 people were killed during the uprising, citing a United Nations report. He said 834 victims have been identified so far, while some others have been identified through DNA testing and the process is continuing. He also said 114 unidentified bodies were buried at Rayerbazar, and that investigators suspect additional victims may be in mass grave sites in Jurain, Matuail, Narayanganj and Munshiganj.

The findings matter because they point not only to deaths during the unrest, but also to possible efforts to obscure the scale and circumstances of those deaths. The allegations raise questions about hospital procedures, burial records and the handling of bodies during a period of intense political violence. They also deepen scrutiny of state institutions that were operating during the crackdown on student-led protests in July and August 2024.

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The uprising began as a student-led protest against the then Awami League government and escalated after a heavy security response. Police and other security forces were deployed, and internet restrictions were imposed as the unrest spread. The crisis eventually led to the ouster of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to India, while an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus took over in August.

The tribunal's latest comments suggest the investigation is still at an early stage in terms of identifying all victims and those responsible for the handling of remains. It remains unclear how many bodies were dumped in the river, which hospital was involved, and how many of the suspected burial sites will be confirmed. The next steps are likely to focus on identification work, forensic testing and efforts to establish responsibility within the institutions involved.

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