Bir Protik Faruk E Azam, the advisor to the liberation war affairs and disaster management ministries, said that any fake freedom fighters identified will be punished for ‘deceiving’ the state.
He made the remarks at a press briefing on Saturday at the Chattogram Circuit House regarding the city’s law and order situation.
“Scrutinising the list of freedom fighters, we can see the reality of what happened. They have become freedom fighters in many forms and ways,” said Faruk.“We will examine the issue (fake freedom fighters) and those who are genuine freedom fighters will remain on the list. The fake ones will be dropped. Many of them should be punished for deceiving the state.”
“I have asked the ministry to look into the reality of the situation,” he added.
He said the total number of freedom fighters in the country and how many of their children have been employed will be revealed soon, Farooq-e-Azam, Bir Pratik.
“Quota has become a major issue in the movement for reform. We have just started working on this. I have not been to the ministry yet. However, I have given the approval to the ministry to start the verification process,” he said after visiting the Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram, which was damaged by fire during the recent violence.
“People have enlisted as freedom fighters in various ways. We will verify who they are.”
Only the true ones will remain, he further said, adding, “The fake ones should be punished for defrauding the state.”
Later, the Advisor visited the burnt Kotwali police station and talked to the policemen. He also sought cooperation from locals to normalize the activities of the police stations.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saiful Islam, Deputy Commissioner Abul Basar Fakhruzzaman and other senior officials of different law enforcement agencies of Chattogram were present on the occasion.
