DHAKA, May 14(V7N) – The High Court (HC) today issued a rule asking why the United Nations (UN) fact-finding report on the July-August mass uprising should not be officially recognized as a "historic document."

A division bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf passed the order following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Tanvir Ahmed.

The HC bench also questioned why the document should not be preserved for future generations, emphasizing its potential value for national memory, accountability, and academic research.

In his petition, Tanvir Ahmed argued that the report holds significant historical and evidentiary value and should be preserved for three key reasons: to educate future generations, serve as legal and historical evidence, and facilitate research into the events of the uprising.

This is not the first legal action related to the uprising. In August, the petitioner had previously filed another writ with the Supreme Court seeking the trial of those responsible for the July-August mass killings. In response, the court issued a rule, prompting the government to reconstitute the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and amend relevant legislation.

Following these developments, the ICT’s investigation agency and prosecution unit have since been actively working on the issue.

The UN fact-finding report, which has already been published, stated that over 1,400 people were killed during the uprising. It details the atrocities committed under political patronage and scrutinizes the role of the judiciary during that period.

The HC’s latest rule reflects the growing legal and public interest in preserving the historical truth surrounding the events of the July-August uprising and ensuring accountability through institutional memory.

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