THOUGH 47 years have gone after the independence, the nation is still hovering in defining ‘freedom fighter’ and the minimum age of them that allowed the successive governments in the years to retype and enlarge the freedom fighters’ list and lowering their age limit to encompass partisan people again and again. As per news media, the latest step in this regard was taken by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (MoLWA) on Wednesday lowering the minimum age at 12-and-a-half years to make a person eligible for earning the status of a freedom fighter. Who assumed in power usually changes the definition of freedom fighter and so far it has happened 10 times earlier and their list has also been changed six times since the independence. It is a matter of disgrace, the Constitution and the state policies of the country are derived from the spirit of the gallantry nine-month long blood-strain liberation war, but the definition of freedom fighters is still matter of dispute. And an undisputed list is yet to be prepared.
The decision to reduce the age limit was made at the 50th meeting of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JMC) on October 19 last year. This is the third time the minimum age limit has been revised. Under the revised age limit, people who were aged at least 12 years 6 months on November 30, 1971 will be eligible for applying for the status. Despite, the Minister AKM Mozammel Huq’s opposition, the decision to lower the age limit was reached under pressure from an influential Minister and a former State Minister. Earlier on June 19 last year, the Ministry issued a gazette fixing 13 years as the minimum age for being recognised as a freedom fighter. The Ministry at that time revised the date of counting the minimum age to November 30, 1971 from March 26, 1971.
There are some 2.32 lakh enlisted freedom fighters in the country now, up from 1.98 lakh in 2002 as per a gazette published by the then BNP-Jamaat government. Besides, the Ministry is now scrutinizing around 1.33 lakh applications for getting listed as freedom fighters. At present, 1.84 lakh freedom fighters draw a monthly allowance of Tk 10,000 each. Their children and grandchildren have a 30 percent quota in government jobs and special quotas in public schools, colleges and universities.
Recently, the Parliament was told that many fake freedom fighters were still enjoying government allowances for the war veterans. It is shameful and regretful for the nation that those who are not freedom fighters are still included in the freedom fighters’ list and getting allowances.
Please stop defining freedom fighters to increase the number of fake freedom fighters. No less true freedom fighters were the people who gave their lives in the hands of brutal Pakistan army without leaving the country. But in some quarters those who left for India are recognised as freedom fighters in their group interest. This is distorting history.
The decision to reduce the age limit was made at the 50th meeting of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JMC) on October 19 last year. This is the third time the minimum age limit has been revised. Under the revised age limit, people who were aged at least 12 years 6 months on November 30, 1971 will be eligible for applying for the status. Despite, the Minister AKM Mozammel Huq’s opposition, the decision to lower the age limit was reached under pressure from an influential Minister and a former State Minister. Earlier on June 19 last year, the Ministry issued a gazette fixing 13 years as the minimum age for being recognised as a freedom fighter. The Ministry at that time revised the date of counting the minimum age to November 30, 1971 from March 26, 1971.
There are some 2.32 lakh enlisted freedom fighters in the country now, up from 1.98 lakh in 2002 as per a gazette published by the then BNP-Jamaat government. Besides, the Ministry is now scrutinizing around 1.33 lakh applications for getting listed as freedom fighters. At present, 1.84 lakh freedom fighters draw a monthly allowance of Tk 10,000 each. Their children and grandchildren have a 30 percent quota in government jobs and special quotas in public schools, colleges and universities.
Recently, the Parliament was told that many fake freedom fighters were still enjoying government allowances for the war veterans. It is shameful and regretful for the nation that those who are not freedom fighters are still included in the freedom fighters’ list and getting allowances.
Please stop defining freedom fighters to increase the number of fake freedom fighters. No less true freedom fighters were the people who gave their lives in the hands of brutal Pakistan army without leaving the country. But in some quarters those who left for India are recognised as freedom fighters in their group interest. This is distorting history.
