Adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Farooq-e Azam on Wednesday said that the media news about revoking the recognition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the four national leaders and the other leaders of the Mujibnagar Government as freedom fighters was not true.
The adviser’s statement came as he was talking to reporters at the secretariat, saying that it was not true that their names were dropped from the list of freedom fighters, as the ordinance made the status of the provisional Bangladesh government (Mujibnagar Government) clear.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Monsur Ali, AHM Quamruzzaman and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad were in the Mujibnagar government—they were all freedom fighters, he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the interim government promulgated the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Amendment) Ordinance in a gazette making changes in the freedom fighter’s definition.
The law ministry published the ordinance amending the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Act 2022, dropping the members of ‘Mujib Bahini’ from the definition of freedom fighters.
The new ordinance categorised some previously recognised freedom fighters as ‘associate freedom fighters’.
However, media reports claimed that the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the four national leaders, and the Members of the National Assembly or Members of the Provincial Assembly associated with the Mujibnagar Government would no longer be recognised as freedom fighters following the ordinance.
Farooq-e Azam said, ‘The war was conducted by the government (Mujibnagar Government) and recognition was not given to anyone outside the legitimacy of the government.’
According to the ordinance, the definition of ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ would include those who, between March 26 and December 16 of 1971, received internal training and prepared for war in villages across the country, and those who crossed the border into India for training in camps with their names registered with the aim of participating in the War of Independence.’
‘All civilian citizens who actively participated in the war against the Pakistani occupation armed forces and their collaborators—Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nizam-e-Islam and Peace Committees—within the age limit set by the government at the time, for the purpose of achieving Bangladesh’s independence will be freedom fighters,’ the adviser stated.
‘Apart from this, members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles, police, Mukti Bahini, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, and any other forces recognised by that government, including naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar, are to be considered as valiant freedom fighters,’ he said.
The new definition also included that ‘all women (Birangona) subjected to abuse by Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators’ and all doctors, nurses, and medical assistants who provided services at field hospitals are also recognised as freedom fighters.
Adviser Farooq-e Azam said that since the ordinance included the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, the leaders associated with it were also recognised as freedom fighters.
The ordinance introduced the category of ‘associate freedom fighter’ for those who did not participate in direct combat. They are citizens of Bangladesh who, residing inside the country or abroad, inspired the freedom fighters, strengthened the effort of the War of Independence, and contributed to achieving Bangladesh’s independence by playing the role of organisers, building international opinion, securing diplomatic support and creating psychological momentum.
Officers, employees or envoys under the Mujibnagar Government, doctors, nurses, and assistants appointed by that government, MNAs or MPAs who were later considered members of the Constituent Assembly, all artists and people who worked for Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, journalists who supported the war at home and abroad and players of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team are also associate freedom fighters.
When asked whether the definition implied that only those who fought directly in the battlefield are now recognised as freedom fighters, Farooq-e Azam said in reply, ‘That is not the case, because they (Mujibnagar Government leaders) gave directions in the battlefield.’
He also said that the Mujibnagar Government directed the entire war effort, which was a historical truth. ‘The government managed the entire war effort—how can that part of the history be changed?’
There is no difference in the honour or privileges between freedom fighters and associates, he added.
