BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, during a ceremony to provide financial aid to the heroes of July and previous movements, declared that everyone who suffered in the 16-year struggle against dictatorship is a future national hero. He highlighted numerous enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and political murders during this period. Salahuddin referenced the Chief Advisor’s statement recognizing the martyrs of 1971 as national heroes and extended this honor to all who sacrificed their lives in the anti-fascist movement. Citing human rights organizations, he noted that by 2023, over 7,188 people fell victim to enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killings, with 709 still missing. He urged the need for mental reform and a shift in the mindset of those who govern, stressing that structural reform alone will not achieve desired progress.