Only battlefield fighters ‘FFs,’ others Associates: Adviser

Farooq-e-Azam, adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. UNB

Dhaka, Feb 25 (UNB) – Only those who fought directly on the battlefield against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 will be recognised as ‘freedom fighters,’ while those who played a role in mobilising public opinion, securing diplomatic support and assisting the war efforts from home and abroad will be categorised as ‘Liberation War Associates.’ 

“We are amending the ‘National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 2022’ through an ordinance to bring about this change,” Farooq-e-Azam, the adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, revealed this in an interview with UNB. 

When asked about the existing law, eight categories of individuals and professionals who did not directly participate in combat are recognised as ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ (valiant freedom fighters). 

 “The draft of the ‘National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ has been prepared, and stakeholders have been consulted on the matter. The draft may be placed for approval in the Advisory Council meeting in the first week of March.” 

Farooq-e-Azam said that there have been demands to remove those with freedom fighter certificates who did not engage in direct combat.  “That is why we want to bring some amendments to the National Freedom Fighters Council Act. The major amendment will be in the definition of freedom fighters,” he said. 

Explaining the revised categorisation, he added, “Those who fought directly in the battlefield and those who assisted in various ways are being classified separately. Those who played a role in shaping public opinion abroad, those involved with the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, those in administrative positions in Mujibnagar at various levels—everyone will be distinguished separately.”

Under the amended law, he said, those who engaged in direct armed combat will be recognised as freedom fighters, while those who contributed in other capacities will be known as Liberation War Associates. “There are no objections regarding allowances or benefits. The only concern is that the status of ‘freedom fighter’ remains exclusive to those who fought in the battlefield,” he asserted. 

Various freedom fighter organisations have expressed strong opposition to equating direct combatants with others, according to the adviser. 

“They came to speak with me, and I strongly agreed with their stance. Like them, I was also involved in the war effort but in a different capacity. I worked in a secure environment to support the liberation cause in different ways. That, too, is important, but it should be defined separately,” he mentioned. 

Existing definition under the law

The current law defines a ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ as, “Any civilian or member of the armed forces, Mujib Bahini, Mukti Bahini, and other recognised forces, police force, EPR naval commandos, Kilo Force, or Ansar members who, in response to the declaration of independence by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, prepared for battle in villages and towns within the country, received internal training, and actively participated in the war against the occupying Pakistani military forces and their collaborators—including Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam, Muslim League, and their auxiliary forces such as the Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, Mujahid Bahini, and the Peace Committee—between 26 March and 16 December 1971.” 

The law also currently grants freedom fighter status to eight categories of individuals who did not directly participate in combat.

These include those who trained in India, those who mobilised global opinion in favour of the war, officials and employees of the Mujibnagar government, MNAs affiliated with the Mujibnagar government who were later recognised as members of the Constituent Assembly, Birangonas (women subjected to wartime atrocities), artists and staff of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, journalists working for the war effort at home and abroad, members of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team and medical teams treating wounded freedom fighters. 

Key Changes in Draft Ordinance

Farooq-e-Azam noted that the phrase ‘in response to the declaration of independence by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ has been removed from the new definition of freedom fighters in the draft ordinance. 

Besides, the new ordinance proposes to grant ‘freedom fighter’ status to all women who were persecuted by the Pakistani forces and their collaborators and to all doctors, nurses and medical assistants who provided field hospital services to wounded freedom fighters during the war. 

The adviser also pointed out a major issue with the current definition of freedom fighters. 

“Freedom fighters engaged in war voluntarily, not under any orders. But the wording of present law suggests that we did not intend to go to war but did so only in response to someone’s call. That is incorrect. Freedom fighters joined the war out of their love for the country and its people. It was either their life or that of the enemy. Love for the nation is the only reason people are willing to sacrifice their lives, not an order from someone,” he explained. 

Definition of liberation war associates

Under the draft ordinance, Liberation War Associates are defined as: 

“Those who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, either within the country or abroad, inspired freedom fighters, accelerated the Liberation War, and played an organisational role in securing Bangladesh’s independence by shaping global opinion, gaining diplomatic support, and strengthening psychological resilience.” 

Under the current law, these individuals are recognised as freedom fighters. 

Approval Process

Farooq-e-Azam said, “We have gathered public opinion from various quarters on the draft ordinance and considered their feedback. On Sunday (February 23), we held discussions with multiple freedom fighter organisations, which also provided their opinions. We will modify the draft ordinance based on these views and finalise it in the upcoming National Freedom Fighters Council meeting before presenting it to the advisory council. The vetting process for the ordinance has already been completed.” 

The next council meeting is expected to take place by Thursday. “We hope to send it to the advisory council in the first week of March,” he added. 

Minimum Age  

On the issue of minimum age, the adviser noted, “To be recognised as a freedom fighter, the minimum age during the war must have been 12 years and 6 months. However, there is an ongoing legal case regarding this. If the court does not rule otherwise, this age requirement will remain unchanged. If the court upholds the existing age limit, a large number of “Omuktijoddha” [unqualified individuals] will be removed from the freedom fighter list.” 

Chances for False Claimers   

The adviser revealed that several freedom fighter organisations have proposed allowing individuals who obtained benefits under false pretences to seek forgiveness by submitting an application by March 26. 

“This is a demand from various [freedom fighter] organisations, but the government has yet to take a final decision. However, we are considering it positively,” he said. 

According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, there are currently 91,998 living freedom fighters in Bangladesh. The Management Information System (MIS) records show that a total of 256,476 individuals have been officially gazetted as freedom fighters. - UNB