New committees to check freedom fighter status

The government has formed new committees to make a list of actual freedom fighters and scrutinise the existing list of freedom fighters in Bangladesh.

The reconstituted eight-member committees will also check applications for freedom fighter status and dispose of the complaints against them.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has dismissed the previous committees before forming the new Upazila, and district or metropolitan-level committees.

The status check became necessary, even 45 years after the War, as a section of unscrupulous people started to use the special status to obtain undue benefits and advantages.

In an order on Jan 12, the ministry said if the MP of the corresponding Upazila, district or metropolitan is a freedom fighter, he or she will head the committee.

The ministry will select presidents of the committees, which do not have any freedom fighter MP.

Such MPs will also select a freedom fighter as his or her representative in the committee. If the MP's representative becomes the president of the committee, the MP will become a member of the committee.

The others in the committees will include a representative of the ministry, the divisional in-charge of National Freedom Fighters' Council, Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command Council representative, and district Muktijoddha commander or his representative.

Upazila Muktijoddha commanders or their representatives will also be included in the Upazila committees while district deputy Muktijoddha commander or his representative will be a member of the district or metropolitan committee.

The Upazila Nirbahee Officer will be the member secretary of the Upazila committee while the deputy commissioner will fill the same post in district or metropolitan committees.

The ministry order said any freedom fighter or his representative under scrutiny cannot be in the committees.

The committees have been asked to make the lists following government instructions issued last year.