The High Court has struck down a government order that denied the status of freedom fighters to 2,367 persons.
Published : 08 Sep 2016, 04:54 PM
The bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman on Thursday ruled that the circular cancelling the gazette notification was illegal.
In October 2014, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs cancelled the list of 2,367 names.
The same year, NAP-Communist Party-Chhatra Union Guerrilla Force's Deputy Commander Pankaj Bhattacharya challenged the decision in the High Court.
His counsel Subrata Chowdhury told bdnews24.com the court's order means that these 2,367 persons will be entitled to all facilities as freedom fighters.
Activists of leftist bodies, NAP, Communist Party and Chhatra Union formed a Guerrilla Force in 1971 War of Independence, after which the then East Pakistan emerged as the sovereign country of Bangladesh.
Members of this force formally surrendered their arms at the Dhaka Stadium to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Jan 30, 1972.
The force's deputy commander Pankaj said wartime government as well the Bangabandhu’s post-war government had recognised members of their force as freedom fighters.