Dhaka: Chief Adviser’s Press Wing today called false and misleading the newspapers’ reports claiming that the recognition of freedom fighters of the president and prime minister of the Mujibnagar government and over a hundred of leaders has been revoked.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the press wing stated that the news published in several newspapers, including Samakal, Jugantar, Ittefaq, and Kalerkanth, was completely baseless. The reports had claimed that the recognition of freedom fighters for more than a hundred leaders, including president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad, and ministers Md. Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman of the Mujibnagar government, had been canceled. The press wing’s official statement was shared on its verified Facebook account, CA Press Wing Pacts.
Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq E Azam clarified that individuals who were part of the Mujibnagar government were indeed freedom fighters. He emphasized that those who participated in the liberation war, whether by arms or by orchestrating it, were recognized as freedom fighters. He further explained that officials and employees of that government are classified as associate freedom fighters.
The adviser elaborated that under the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) Ordinance, diplomats and individuals involved in Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra are considered associate freedom fighters. He stressed that being labeled as an associate does not diminish their honor. He also mentioned that the definition of a freedom fighter, as established in 1972, has been upheld. Changes to this definition were made in 2018 and 2022, but the honor, status, and benefits for both freedom fighters and associate freedom fighters of the liberation war will remain unchanged.