Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has called for state recognition of individuals involved in the protests that took place during the Shahbagh movement in early 2013.

He made the remarks on Saturday during a financial aid distribution event at Osmani Memorial Hall on Abdul Gani Road, attended by family members of those killed in the violent clashes linked to the broader political unrest of that period.

Referring to the events, Parwar described the violence as “one of the most tragic episodes during the Awami League’s tenure.” He said, “The widespread unrest seen across the country in July and August 2013 was a direct response to the earlier incidents around Shahbagh.”

He emphasized the importance of transparency and justice, stating, “If the trials of those accused in connection with the Shahbagh-related violence are fully concluded and made public, it will set a significant precedent for accountability and national reconciliation.”

Parwar also urged the government to formally acknowledge the participants and victims from his side of the movement, calling for their inclusion in the nation’s historical narrative.

Speaking at the same event, Maulana Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, claimed that many of the deceased could not be identified due to the severity of the violence. “People were burned beyond recognition or went missing—so much so that the exact number of those lost remains unknown,” he said. “The uprisings later in 2013 were deeply rooted in the pain caused by these events.”

A total of 77 families received Tk 774,000 each during the ceremony, organized by Jamaat-e-Islami and allied organizations.