The government has revoked the freedom fighter (FF) certificates of four secretaries and stayed the certification of one as they had obtained FF certificates by illegal means.The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on Monday issued a gazette notification in this regard.Earlier this month, the Anti-Corruption Commission found them guilty of forgery in obtaining the certification and recommended for revoking their certificates.The four secretaries who lost the FF certificates are: Health Secretary Niaz Uddin Mia, Public Service Commission Secretary AKM Amir Hossain, former Liberation War Affairs Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui (now an OSD), and former Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Abul Kashem Talukder (now an OSD).However, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has decided to stay the certification of former PMO Secretary Molla Wahiduzzaman, now Chairman of Privatisation Commission, because of “some positive results in further inspection.” “The Ministry of Public Administration will now decide on how to deal with the Secretaries,” Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque told reporters after a meeting at the National Freedom Fighters’ Council in the capital on Monday. “The gazette was sent to the Ministry of Public Administration. The Ministry will take legal steps against the officials,” he said. On the note of a stay order on Wahiduzzaman’s certificate, the Minister said that the National Security Intelligence (NSI) has found positive result on an appeal plea lodged by the former PMO secretary. “Wahiduzzaman has completed four out of five steps needed to obtain the FF certificate. It’s not his fault that he had not completed one step,” said the Liberation War Affairs Minister. Earlier, an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed that the five had obtained their freedom-fighter certificates by ‘illegal means’. In its report, the ACC recommended the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Public Administration to cancel their certificates and initiate legal procedures against the five.According to the public service rule, the five may face charges of fraud and breach of discipline. These senior government officials allegedly obtained the certificates to extend their service tenure by a year.According to the rules, one has to show his/her freedom-fighter credentials while joining public service.Earlier, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs had cancelled the certificates of 182 government employees and ordered departmental steps against them.
