Interim government cancels fake freedom fighter certificate in Bangladesh

There are many benefits available only if you have a freedom fighter certificate. Not only for yourself but also other family members get many benefits. But it is alleged that many have obtained that certificate with fake documents. It is alleged that many have become 'freedom fighters' through fraud without fighting for the freedom of Bangladesh. This time this kind of 'fake freedom fighter certificate' is being cancelled. The interim government of Bangladesh claims that many Awami League leaders and activists were given 'fake freedom fighter certificate'. During the Awami League rule, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued 'Freedom Fighters Gazette' in the names of around 18,000 persons. Some ministers and MPs of Hasina's tenure were also given this certificate. However, the question has also been raised whether all of them were freedom fighters or not.

The 'Muktijodhar Gazette' was issued in the name of many under the pressure of complaints, leaders, ministers and MPs. They became freedom fighters through fraud without fighting for the country. In this situation, the interim government has decided to reform the list of gazetted freedom fighters during the Hasina government. Those who obtained certificates with fake documents will be cancelled.

Why are the communal handful, the minorities still being targeted?
Farooq-e-Azam Virpratik, Adviser on Liberation War, said, 'The list of freedom fighters will be reformed.' He claimed, 'An opportunistic group has been included in the list of freedom fighters, excluding the real freedom fighters. To appreciate the true freedom fighters and their sacrifices, the list of freedom fighters needs to be reformed. Liberation War Affairs Secretary Israt Chowdhury said that an investigation will be conducted if a specific complaint is received against someone. He also said that the process of canceling the certificate has already started after identifying the fake freedom fighters.

It is known that this list was made after Awami League came to power in 2009. Due to the controversy over the list of freedom fighters, Hasina's government started the work of preparing the final list in the sixth phase in 2011. About one and a half lakh applications were received online till 31 October 2014. The final list of the 'Combined List of Veer Freedom Fighters' was released in 2021 after their scrutiny began in January 2017. The names of 1 lakh 93 thousand 743 people have been included in that list so far. The names of several ministers and parliamentarians of Hasina's tenure were in that list. It is also alleged that their names were registered even though they did not participate in the liberation war.