The High Court has asked the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to determine the definition of freedom fighters before finalising their list.
The HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khijir Ahmed issued the rule on Wednesday following a writ petition filed by six freedom fighters including SM Sohrab Hossain, Jamal Uddin Shikder.
On Monday, they moved the petition to the High Court saying that the Ministry of Liberation Affairs had undertaken initiative for publishing a final list of freedom fighters without determining the definition of freedom fighter.
In the petition, they stayed that governments published several lists of freedom fighters over the years without fixing the definition of freedom fighters.
As a result, names of some fake freedom fighters were entered in the lists and many original freedom fighters were dropped, they said.
Lawyer Rafiqur Rahman and Hasnat Kaiyum took part in hearing on behalf of the freedom fighters. Deputy Attorney General Md Al Amin Sarker represented the state.