Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the High Court orders that stayed the government decision of cancelling freedom fighter status of 196 retired members of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and also directed the government to give them benefits as freedom fighters.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after holding hearing on five separate appeal petitions filed by the government challenging the HC orders.
Lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Sabrina Jerin and Abdul Qaium appeared for the freedom fighters, while additional Attorney General SK Md Morshed represented the state during virtual hearing of the appeals.
Following the five separate writ petitions, the HC on September 21 in 2019, stayed the government decision of cancelling the freedom fighter status of 196 retired members of Army, BGB and BAF, and also directed the government to give them benefits as freedom fighters.
The court also issued rules in this regard asking the respondents to explain in four weeks as to why the decision of scrapping the freedom fighter status of the 196 retired Army, BGB and BAF personnel should not be declared illegal.
Liberation war affairs secretary and director general of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council and director general of directorate of social service have been asked to comply with the rule.
On June 7 in 2019, the liberation war affairs ministry issued two notifications cancelling freedom fighter status of 1134 retired Army and BGB personnel and 47 retired BAF personnel including the 196 writ petitioners on charge of obtaining the status by placing forged documents.
The move was reportedly taken in view of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council’s 66th meeting held on December 10 in 2018.