Three separate lists of Freedom Fighters, Martyred Intellectuals and also of Rajakars, Albadar, Al-Shams and members of the then ‘Peace Committees’ are expected to be published on March 26.
The decision to publish the list will coincide the great Independence Day - the day when the nation is going to celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence, said officials concerned.
The sources in the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka), the national council for freedom fighters, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs said that the process for the scrutinizing the list of freedom fighters was about to be completed and expected to be finalised before March 26.
According to sources, at present the number of gazette FFs is 2,31,385. Of them, 1,87,293 people are getting allowances as the FFs. But the government has taken an initiative of verifying the list as over 50,000 people were said to have been enlisted in the gazette as FFs during the period from 2002 to 2014 without following the procedures properly.
Officials of the Jamuka said they almost have completed the scrutinisation process.
Accordingly, the government, so far, has collected a list of 1,222 martyred intellectuals and another list with 2,504 names of Rajakars, Albadar and Al-Shams, who collaborated with the Pakistani forces as the anti-liberation forces during the War of Liberation during 1971.
It should be mentioned that the government earlier on December 15 in 2019 had published a primary list with 10,789 names of Rajakars, Albadar and Al-Shams. But, later, the government decided to publish a fresh list of the anti-liberation forces through proper verification.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque several times in this week said that the draft list of the FFs is almost ready and the final list will be published on March 26.
“The draft list of the FFs is ready and the final list will be published before the nation on March 26,” said the minister while talking to journalist on February 16 at a function held at the National Press Club.
Besides, the Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Sunday said that the list of martyred intellectuals is also ready and it will be released on March 26.
The minister made the disclosure in response to a question from reporters after a seminar and award distribution event held on the occasion of the Great Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day at Kaliakair in Gazipur.
Meanwhile, Shahjahan Khan, president of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, on Wednesday also said that the separate lists of FFs, Martyred Intellectuals and also the list of Rajakars, Albadar, Al-Shams and members of the then ‘Peace Committees’ will be published before March 26 this year.
It should be mentioned that the nation is going to celebrate the 50 years of its independence or the golden jubilee of the independence on March 26 through different colourful programmes.
The function is expected to be celebrated in participation with many international leaders and prominent personalities.
Bangladesh achieved its independence through a nine-month war of liberation from March 26 to December 16 in 1971 when around 30 lakh of its people had to sacrifice their lives.