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Published : 01 Feb 2026, 01:07 AM
Julian Francis, also known as “Friend of Bangladesh”, has said the honour of genuine freedom fighters is being undermined by the inclusion of "fakes" on official lists.
His bond with Bangladesh dates back to the 1971 Liberation War.
During the war, he was a 25-year-old working with Oxfam, posted in India’s Bihar state.
He later served as a relief coordinator for hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi refugees who had taken shelter in camps across India.
Speaking on Saturday at bdnews24.com for the launch of the second volume of "Bangladesh, Penned in Blood: History of Glory, Pain and Roots", Francis noted that the identity of "freedom fighter" has become mired in controversy.
"The names of freedom fighters have become controversial, not because of their actions, but because of the inclusion of many fake names on the lists to claim government allowances over the years," he said.
"It is very depressing to realise that some individuals receiving these benefits were not even old enough to have fought in 1971."
He added that this has led to a tragic public perception where the entire freedom fighter community, or at least a large portion of it, is viewed with suspicion.
"This is a great tragedy because there are remarkable freedom fighters still alive, and they must be getting very depressed."
The three-volume collection, edited by bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, aims to move beyond a linear narrative to capture the multifaceted nature of the people’s war.
The first volume was released last Victory Day, followed by the second volume on Jan 31.
Commenting on the work, Francis said: "I believe this book is particularly significant and detailed. In my bookshelves, I have many different books about the Liberation War. But often they are not looking at the whole picture and also the history before 1971. All that background, I think, is covered in the volume.”
