By Sumi Khan

Dhaka, Aug 31 (IANS): Family members of 120 Bangladeshi freedom fighters and war heroes who were hanged to death by forces of former President Ziaur Rahman on October 2, 1977, have demanded justice by rallying in front of the Central Jail in Dhaka.

On the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2022, a discussion meeting was organised at the Central Shaheed Minar on Tuesday under the banner of "We want justice for the disappearance and hanging of the brave freedom fighters in 1977".

As many as 19 coups took place when Ziaur Rahman, who founded the BNP, led the country.

Around 1,500 were reportedly purged mostly the freedom fighters, the war heroes who later joined armed forces.

At the event, Nurunnahar Begum, 70, wife of Delwar Hossain, demanded to know the whereabouts of her husband's grave.

Nurunnahar said within three years of her marriage, her husband suddenly disappeared. Later, she came to know that her husband's body had remained hidden after being murdered.

"If I knew where my husband was buried, at least I could have offered prayers at his grave," she told the country leaders.

Family members are still frantically keeping their pursuit to get hold of their missing loved one's remains.

Liberation War Affairs Minister, AKM Mozammel Haque said that Ziaur Rahman killed 2,500-3,000 members of the military without a trial in the name of suppressing the rebellion.

Freedom fighters were killed selectively. said the bodies were buried in Dhaka, Comilla, Chattogram, Rangpur, Jashore, and Bogura central jails.

Executions were carried out under curfew in the dark of night.

The names and identities of the 209 people who were hanged in the trial of the Special Military Tribunal formed on the orders of military ruler have been revealed.