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Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Deccan Herald
Bangladesh drops 'Father of the Nation' title for Mujibur Rahman as it amends freedom fighters' law
The interim government has amended the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, "altering" the definition of freedom fighter, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
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.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bangladesh introduces new banknotes, drops Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's portrait
Bangladesh introduced new banknotes on Sunday (Jun 1), dropping the portrait of founding President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in August last year. The new design introduced by the country's caretaker government will showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks. 'Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks,' said Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khana, according to news agency AFP. The new designs on the banknotes will also include artwork of the late painter Zainul Abedin, depicting the Bengal famine during British colonial rule, along with the images of Hindu and Buddhist temples, and historical places. Some currency notes will also depict the national martyrs' memorial for the ones who lost their lives in the independence war against Pakistan. To date, the notes circulated in Bangladesh featured the image of Hasina's father, who led the country to its independence from Pakistan in 1971 before being assassinated by soldiers in a 1975 coup. The caretaker government on Sunday unveiled notes for three out of the nine different denominations. 'The new notes will be issued from the central bank's headquarters, and later from its other offices across the country,' Khana added. 'The other denominations of the notes with new designs will be released in phases'. Existing notes will remain in circulation alongside the new ones, with more denominations to be released in phases. The political landscape has had a huge impact on the designs featured by the currency notes in the country over the years. Initially, the notes issued in 1972 featured a map of Bangladesh after it changed its name from East Pakistan. Hasina charged with crimes against humanity in Bangladesh This comes after prosecutors with Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal charged Hasina with crimes against humanity, alleging her role in ordering mass killings during a nationwide uprising in July. The charges, submitted by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and his team, accuse Hasina of being the chief instigator behind the violent crackdown that unfolded during the July and August unrest, according to The Dhaka Tribune. 'The evidence points clearly to her role in directing the operation,' Islam told The Dhaka Tribune following the filing 'This was a coordinated attack on civilians, and she bears command responsibility.'
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina charged with crimes against humanity in Bangladesh
Prosecutors with Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday formally charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with crimes against humanity, alleging her role in ordering mass killings during a nationwide uprising in July, local media reported. The charges, submitted by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and his team, accuse Hasina of being the chief instigator behind the violent crackdown that unfolded during the July and August unrest, according to The Dhaka Tribune. Two senior members of her former government — former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Mamun — have also been named as co-accused. 'The evidence points clearly to her role in directing the operation,' Islam told The Dhaka Tribune following the filing 'This was a coordinated attack on civilians, and she bears command responsibility.' The tribunal's move follows the May 12 submission of an investigation report that, for the first time, officially named Hasina as the authority who ordered the killings. This comes weeks after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus banned all activities of Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act after days of protests. The government cited national security threats and a war crimes investigation underway against the party's top leadership over the deaths of hundreds of protesters. On August 5, Sheikh Hasina had resigned, vacated her residence in Dhaka and left the country for an undisclosed location in India, as protesters came out on the streets of Dhaka defying curfew orders. After entering Indian airspace, the helicopter she was flying in circled for some time and later landed at a BSF helipad in Agartala. She went to Delhi from there and landed at the Indian military airbase in Hindon on Monday evening.
