He made the remarks on Saturday during a check distribution event held at the Osmani Memorial Hall on Abdul Gani Road in Dhaka, where family members of the martyrs were present.

“We feel proud to take even a small initiative to honor the martyrs of Shahbagh. We want their names permanently written in gold letters at the Shahbagh site,” said Asif Mahmud.

He added that the names of those who were killed during the Hefazat-e-Islam movement at Shahbagh will be engraved on the permanent infrastructure there. “The defeated fascist forces may raise questions about various aspects of this initiative, but we will continue,” he said.

Recalling the tragic events of May 5, 2013, Asif Mahmud said, “I was only 15 years old then, probably in Class Nine. The memories of that day remain fresh in my mind.”

He further noted that the brutal killings were witnessed by people across Bangladesh, but the Awami League government at the time attempted to erase it from history, and even the families of martyrs were afraid to reveal their identities.

Asif Mahmud emphasized that in the coming days, Bangladesh must honor those who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s history, independence, and democratic movements, ensuring their memory is preserved with the highest respect.

The event also distributed Tk 774,000 among 77 families who lost members during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam massacre and the 2021 March protest-related killings.