The interim government has amended the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, altering the definition of freedom fighter.
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the related ordinance on Tuesday night.
According to the revised ordinance, all MNAs (members of the national assembly) and MPAs (members of the provincial assembly) associated with the wartime government-in-exile of Bangladesh (Mujibnagar Government), who were later considered members of the erstwhile constituent assembly, will now be categorized as “associates of the Liberation War.”
Until now, they were recognized as freedom fighters.
The ordinance outlines five categories of Liberation War associates:
- Bangladeshi professionals who contributed significantly to the Liberation War while abroad and those who played an active role in mobilizing global public opinion.
- Individuals who served as officials, employees or envoys under the Mujibnagar Government, including doctors, nurses and other assistants appointed by it.
- All MNAs and MPAs affiliated with the Mujibnagar Government during the war who were later considered members of the constituent assembly.
- All artists and crew members of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, as well as Bangladeshi journalists who served in favour of the war both at home and abroad.
- The members of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team.
Previously, on May 15, the Advisory Council conditionally approved the draft ordinance in a meeting, indicating that the definition of a freedom fighter would be revised.
These changes were subsequently implemented and formalized through the ordinance.
The new definition of a freedom fighter states that all civilian individuals who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, received combat training or made preparations for war within the country, enrolled in training camps in India with the aim of participating in the war, took up arms against the occupying Pakistani military forces and their local collaborators, including Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the then-Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam and members of the peace committees, in the pursuit of Bangladesh’s independence, and who were within the government-determined minimum age at that time, will be recognized as freedom fighters.
Additionally, members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police, Mukti Bahini, the Mujibnagar Government and its recognized forces, naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar will also be included under the definition.
Women who were subjected to torture by the invading Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the war (Birangona) will also be recognized as freedom fighters under the new definition.
Furthermore, doctors, nurses and medical assistants who served injured fighters in field hospitals during the war will also be acknowledged as freedom fighters.
The amendment to the law also modifies the term “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
Furthermore, the ordinance redefines Liberation War as the armed struggle carried out between March 26 and December 16, 1971, by the people of Bangladesh aiming to establish a sovereign democratic state founded on equality, human dignity and social justice, against the occupying Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators.