We congratulate the government for taking initiative to cancel fake freedom fighter (FF) certificates though late. We know that thousands of fake FFs appeared in the society after surrender of Pakistan Armed Forces to the Indo-Bangla joint forces on December 16 in 1971. But the question is what is the criterion of a genuine freedom fighter?
Is the taking of training in India about guerilla warfare only criteria? Are not they FFs, who sheltered the FFs, fed and clothed them? I know many of us worked hard through the whole nine months, encouraged the youths to join the war of independence and kept the FFs informed about the movements of the enemy troops.
They are surely FFs though they have no certificates. Sadly their contributions remained unaccounted for due to administrative weakness at the thana, the sub-division and the district levels.
When the government machinery considers everything from political consideration, there is the complicacy. We are shocked that war hero like Major (rtd) M.A.Jalil, Commander of Sector No. 9, has not yet been given any gallantry award till today.
Though 43 years have passed by this time, we request the present government to do something in this regard. Information Minister Hasanaul Haq Inu, once party comrade, may take the initiative.
Dhaka
