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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Bangladesh drops Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 'Father of the Nation' title
Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh's interim government on Tuesday amended legislation to eliminate the "Father of the Nation" title for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, according to reports by the Press Trust of India, citing local media. The move comes days after the removal of Rahman's image from banknotes, replacing it with natural landscapes and traditional landmarks. Rahman was the country's first prime minister and a central figure in its independence movement. Key changes to National Freedom Fighters Council Act The ordinance amending the National Freedom Fighters Council Act was issued by Bangladesh's Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs late Tuesday, according to Dhaka Tribune. The amended act introduces several changes to the legal framework around Bangladesh's Liberation War. The major amendments include: Redefinition of freedom fighters to include: Series of removals signal broader shift The deletion of Rahman's portrait from banknotes and his name from legislation is part of a broader effort by the interim administration to revise national symbols and narratives associated with the ousted Awami League government. Earlier this year, newly introduced textbooks attributed the 1971 declaration of independence to Ziaur Rahman, an army major at the time, replacing earlier references to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ziaur Rahman later became a sector commander during the Liberation War and subsequently Bangladesh's president. In another move, the government cancelled the national holiday on 15 August, which had previously marked the assassination of Mujibur Rahman. Rahman's daughter and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024 following mass student-led protests that ended her 16-year rule.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Bangladesh Now Drops Bangabandhu From Key Law, Redefines 'Freedom Fighters'
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has removed "Father of the Nation" from the JAMUKA Act, erasing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's legacy. Critics argue this overreach distracts from its electoral mandate amid ongoing political turmoil. The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh has also dropped the words 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' from a key statute, the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JAMUKA) Act, that deals with freedom fighters in the country. After removing the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from currency notes, the interim government in Bangladesh has made yet another move to erase the legacy of the 1971 liberation struggle which was led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Interim Government is continuing its efforts to erase the legacy of the liberation struggle, particularly the role of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has brought in amendments to the JAMUKA Act by changing the definition of 'freedom fighter' under the law. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the ordinance in this regard on Tuesday night, Bangladesh daily, Prothom Alo reported. Critics of the Yunus Government agree that the interim government has gone beyond its mandate and embroiled itself in matters that should be handled by an elected government with a political mandate instead of confining itself to electoral reforms and holding elections to install an elected government. The uprising that took place last year in Bangladesh, initially started off as an anti-quota agitation, after the High Court reinstated the job quotas with reservation of one-third of civil service posts for children of fighters who participated in the country's liberation movement in 1971. Later it became a full-fledged movement to remove the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power which eventually happened on August 5, 2024, when she had to leave Dhaka as a violent mob entered the official residence Gana Bhavan with an intention to kill her. From demanding the abolition of the 30 per cent quota for children of freedom fighters, the anti-quota protesters, backed by radical forces, turned on Sheikh Hasina leading to her leaving the country. The words 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' have been dropped from the JAMUKA act, effectively eroding the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh's liberation war and liberated the country from Pakistan which engaged in a genocide and torture of the local population demanding freedom. In a post on social media platform Muhammad Yunus said, 'The news published in several media outlets including Samakal, Jugantar, Ittefaq and Kalerkanth that the freedom fighter recognition of more than a hundred leaders, including President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and two ministers Md. Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman, of the Mujibnagar government has been revoked is completely baseless, false and misleading.' মুজিবনগর সরকারের রাষ্ট্রপতি শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান, অস্থায়ী রাষ্ট্রপতি সৈয়দ নজরুল ইসলাম, প্রধানমন্ত্রী তাজউদ্দীন আহমদ এবং দুই মন্ত্রী মো. মনসুর আলী ও এ এইচ এম কামরুজ্জামানসহ শতাধিক নেতার মুক্তিযোদ্ধা স্বীকৃতি বাতিল বলে সমকাল, যুগান্তর, ইত্তেফাক ও কালেরকন্ঠসহ কয়েকটি সংবাদমাধ্যমে যে… — Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) June 4, 2025 'Adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Faruk-e-Azam, said that those who were in the Mujibnagar government were also freedom fighters. Those who fought the liberation war with arms, those who led it, were freedom fighters. However, the officials and employees of that government were associate freedom fighters,' Yunus added. 'He said that according to the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) Ordinance, diplomats including the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra are associate freedom fighters. Associate does not mean that their honour has been tarnished. He said that the definition of freedom fighter that existed in 1972 has been implemented. It was changed in 2018 and 2022. The honour, status, and privileges of both freedom fighters and collaborators of the liberation war will remain the same,' Yunus said, claiming the ordinance was addressing changes to the law in 2018 and 2022 under the Sheikh Hasina Government.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
Bangladesh drops 'Father of the Nation' title for Mujibur Rahman as it amends freedom fighters' law
Bangladesh's interim government has dropped the "Father of the Nation" title for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as it amended a legislation, revising the definition of freedom fighter, according to media reports on Wednesday. The move on Tuesday comes a few days after the Muhammad Yunus-led government dropped the portrait of the country's founding father and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's father Mujibur Rahman from new currency notes. The interim government has amended the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, "altering" the definition of freedom fighter, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the related ordinance on Tuesday night, it said. The amendment to the law also "modifies the term 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman'", the report said. According to portal, "The words 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' and portions of the law that mentioned the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been deleted." The Daily Star newspaper reported that the ordinance also makes slight changes to the definition of the Liberation War. "The new definition of Liberation War drops the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The previous one mentioned that the war was waged responding to Bangabandhu's call for independence," it said. According to the revised ordinance, all MNAs (members of the national assembly) and MPAs (members of the provincial assembly) associated with the wartime government-in-exile of Bangladesh (Mujibnagar Government), who were later considered members of the erstwhile constituent assembly, will now be categorised as "associates of the Liberation War", the Dhaka Tribune reported. Until now, they were recognised as freedom fighters. As per the amendment, all civilian individuals who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, received combat training or made preparations for war within the country, enrolled in training camps in India with the aim of participating in the war, took up arms against the occupying Pakistani military forces and their local collaborators, in the pursuit of Bangladesh's independence, and who were within the government-determined minimum age at that time, will be recognised as freedom fighters. The local collaborators include Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the then-Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam and members of the peace committees. Members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police, Mukti Bahini, the Mujibnagar government and its recognised forces, naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar will also be included under the definition of freedom fighters. Women who were subjected to torture by the invading Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the war (Birangona) will also be recognised as freedom fighters under the new definition. Doctors, nurses and medical assistants who served injured fighters in field hospitals during the war will also be acknowledged as freedom fighters. The ordinance redefines Liberation War as the armed struggle carried out between March 26 and December 16, 1971, by the people of Bangladesh aiming to establish a sovereign democratic state founded on equality, human dignity and social justice, against the occupying Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators, the Dhaka Tribune report said. In January, the interim government introduced new textbooks for primary and secondary students for the 2025 academic year that state that Ziaur Rahman, who was an Army major and later a sector commander of the Liberation War, declared the country's independence in 1971, replacing the previous ones crediting founding father Mujibur Rahman with the declaration.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Bangladesh drops 'Father of the Nation' title for Mujibur Rahman as it amends freedom fighters' law
Bangladesh's interim government has dropped the "Father of the Nation" title for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as it amended a legislation, revising the definition of freedom fighter, according to media reports on Wednesday. The move on Tuesday comes a few days after the Muhammad Yunus-led government dropped the portrait of the country's founding father and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's father Mujibur Rahman from new currency notes. The interim government has amended the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, "altering" the definition of freedom fighter, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the related ordinance on Tuesday night, it said. The amendment to the law also "modifies the term 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman'", the report said. Live Events According to portal, "The words 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' and portions of the law that mentioned the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been deleted." The Daily Star newspaper reported that the ordinance also makes slight changes to the definition of the Liberation War. "The new definition of Liberation War drops the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The previous one mentioned that the war was waged responding to Bangabandhu's call for independence," it said. According to the revised ordinance, all MNAs (members of the national assembly) and MPAs (members of the provincial assembly) associated with the wartime government-in-exile of Bangladesh ( Mujibnagar Government ), who were later considered members of the erstwhile constituent assembly, will now be categorised as "associates of the Liberation War", the Dhaka Tribune reported. Until now, they were recognised as freedom fighters. As per the amendment, all civilian individuals who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, received combat training or made preparations for war within the country, enrolled in training camps in India with the aim of participating in the war, took up arms against the occupying Pakistani military forces and their local collaborators, in the pursuit of Bangladesh's independence, and who were within the government-determined minimum age at that time, will be recognised as freedom fighters. The local collaborators include Razakars , Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the then-Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam and members of the peace committees. Members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police, Mukti Bahini, the Mujibnagar government and its recognised forces, naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar will also be included under the definition of freedom fighters. Women who were subjected to torture by the invading Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the war (Birangona) will also be recognised as freedom fighters under the new definition. Doctors, nurses and medical assistants who served injured fighters in field hospitals during the war will also be acknowledged as freedom fighters. The ordinance redefines Liberation War as the armed struggle carried out between March 26 and December 16, 1971, by the people of Bangladesh aiming to establish a sovereign democratic state founded on equality, human dignity and social justice, against the occupying Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators, the Dhaka Tribune report said. In January, the interim government introduced new textbooks for primary and secondary students for the 2025 academic year that state that Ziaur Rahman, who was an Army major and later a sector commander of the Liberation War, declared the country's independence in 1971, replacing the previous ones crediting founding father Mujibur Rahman with the declaration.
