Bangladesh advisers junk claims Mujibur Rahman's freedom fighter status cancelled

India Today

2 days ago

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founding President of Bangladesh, and the father of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh advisers call media reports baseless, false, misleading
Says Mujibur Rahman, 4 others to retain their freedom fighter status
Explains 'Liberation War' associates category in new ordinance
The Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh government has dismissed several media reports claiming that the freedom fighter status of the country's founding President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is also Sheikh Hasina's father, has been revoked. In a statement issued on Facebook by the Chief Adviser Press Wing, it called the reports "completely baseless, false and confusing".
"The news published on several media...says the cancellation of freedom fighters of more than hundreds of leaders, including Mansoor Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman is completely baseless, false and confusing," the statement, roughly translated from Bengali, read. The clarification by Chief Adviser's Press Wing on Facebook.
Quoting Bangladesh's Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam, the statement further said that everyone who was part of the Mujibnagar government were freedom fighters. However, those who were employees of the government are allied freedom fighters, even as he clarified that "allies don't mean their respect has been cut off".
"The definition of freedom fighters was implemented in 1972. It was changed in 2018 and 2022. Respect, dignity and facilities of both the freedom fighters and the partners of the freedom war will remain the same," the Facebook post read.
The clarification came amid confusion over an ordinance that redefined the freedom fighter term and introduced a special category for 'Liberation War' associates. The media reports also claimed that the recognition had been revoked for more than 400 elected politicians from the 1970 polls, who played a significant role in Bangladesh's independence movement, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Azam explained that while officials and employees who worked under the Mujibnagar government would now be dubbed as "associates of Liberation War", it did not apply to its core political leadership, whose status remained unchanged, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
The adviser highlighted during a special briefing that Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamaruzzaman - will retain their freedom fighter status for their role in the 1971 Liberation War.
Often known as the provisional government of Bangladesh or government-in-exile, the Mujibnagar government was founded by Mujibur Rahman and operated from Kolkata, India. Syed Nazrul Islam was the acting President at the time of its inception, and Tajuddin Ahmad was the Prime Minister. It was established after Bangladesh - known as East Pakistan at the time - proclaimed independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Meanwhile, another Bangladesh interim government adviser also took to Facebook to clarify that the media reports of revocation are false. Sharing a screenshot of an official document dated June 3, 2025, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said that the media reports are "fake". The clarification by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Facebook.
"Dear brothers and sisters, the news about the cancellation of freedom fighter certificates for Liberation War leaders like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmad is fake," he wrote.
The development comes as the situation in Bangladesh remains volatile following the protests and the fleeing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Yunus government has been cracking down on the 77-year-old former premier. On Sunday (June 1), Bangladesh prosecutors charged Hasina with crimes against humanity for her alleged role in the violent crackdowns during the 2024 student-led uprising, which eventually led to her resignation and escape to India.
The Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh government has dismissed several media reports claiming that the freedom fighter status of the country's founding President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is also Sheikh Hasina's father, has been revoked. In a statement issued on Facebook by the Chief Adviser Press Wing, it called the reports "completely baseless, false and confusing".
"The news published on several media...says the cancellation of freedom fighters of more than hundreds of leaders, including Mansoor Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman is completely baseless, false and confusing," the statement, roughly translated from Bengali, read. The clarification by Chief Adviser's Press Wing on Facebook.
Quoting Bangladesh's Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam, the statement further said that everyone who was part of the Mujibnagar government were freedom fighters. However, those who were employees of the government are allied freedom fighters, even as he clarified that "allies don't mean their respect has been cut off".
"The definition of freedom fighters was implemented in 1972. It was changed in 2018 and 2022. Respect, dignity and facilities of both the freedom fighters and the partners of the freedom war will remain the same," the Facebook post read.
The clarification came amid confusion over an ordinance that redefined the freedom fighter term and introduced a special category for 'Liberation War' associates. The media reports also claimed that the recognition had been revoked for more than 400 elected politicians from the 1970 polls, who played a significant role in Bangladesh's independence movement, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Azam explained that while officials and employees who worked under the Mujibnagar government would now be dubbed as "associates of Liberation War", it did not apply to its core political leadership, whose status remained unchanged, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
The adviser highlighted during a special briefing that Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamaruzzaman - will retain their freedom fighter status for their role in the 1971 Liberation War.
Often known as the provisional government of Bangladesh or government-in-exile, the Mujibnagar government was founded by Mujibur Rahman and operated from Kolkata, India. Syed Nazrul Islam was the acting President at the time of its inception, and Tajuddin Ahmad was the Prime Minister. It was established after Bangladesh - known as East Pakistan at the time - proclaimed independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Meanwhile, another Bangladesh interim government adviser also took to Facebook to clarify that the media reports of revocation are false. Sharing a screenshot of an official document dated June 3, 2025, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said that the media reports are "fake". The clarification by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Facebook.
"Dear brothers and sisters, the news about the cancellation of freedom fighter certificates for Liberation War leaders like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmad is fake," he wrote.
The development comes as the situation in Bangladesh remains volatile following the protests and the fleeing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Yunus government has been cracking down on the 77-year-old former premier. On Sunday (June 1), Bangladesh prosecutors charged Hasina with crimes against humanity for her alleged role in the violent crackdowns during the 2024 student-led uprising, which eventually led to her resignation and escape to India. Join our WhatsApp Channel