By Kashem Mahmud

DHAKA, Aug 8, 2025 (BSS) - During the one year of the July Mass Uprising, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has been working on a range of initiatives, including rehabilitation and medical care for families of martyrs and injured fighters, preservation of the memory of the July uprising, and other related efforts.

Alongside these critical responsibilities, the ministry has also initiated the identification of approximately 90,000 fake freedom fighters who had been recognized in past years under political considerations.

In the last one year, the ministry has navigated a challenging period for accurately compiling the list of martyrs from the uprising, ensuring proper medical treatment for thousands of injured fighters who survived near-death experiences in hospitals, providing mental support to families of martyrs and injured, and striving to empower those families financially.

Concurrently, all political parties, politically conscious citizens, professionals, and the general public have expected the interim government to fulfill the aspirations of the July Uprising. And that responsibility has largely fallen to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.

On 5 August, the first anniversary of the mass uprising was observed. Based on political consensus, the Chief Adviser read the "July Declaration" in front of the National Parliament. Democracy-seeking political parties attended the event and welcomed the interim government's declaration. The ministry was also responsible for organizing this event. Ganabhaban is being converted into the "July Memorial Museum" inspected by the Chief Adviser on August 5.

Talking with this Special Correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, highlighted various issues of the ministry's work.

He said that 53 years after independence, in 2024, the nation achieved another victory through the July uprising. The student-led mass uprising ousted the fascist, one-party regime of the Awami League and their cohorts from the country. This uprising rekindled the dream of rebuilding the nation on the ideals of the Liberation War and the July Uprising. These aspirations are now termed as the "Second Independence" by the public in speeches and statements.

The Adviser added that the July Uprising of 2024 represented the youth's blazing rebellion against fascism, an echo of millions of young voices crying out against discrimination, and the patriotism of courageous young people who stood against bullets. Men, women, children, the elderly, all demanded voting rights, democracy, fundamental rights, and judicial independence in the streets. The interim government, rooted in the spirit of mass movement, is working to meet those expectations. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs holds the responsibility of sharpening that spirit and fulfilling those public hopes. Over the past year, the ministry has outlined a brief record of its progress.

He noted that providing comprehensive details of the ministry's year-long activities is difficult, as assessments typically follow specific timeframes or project-based evaluations. However, the ministry's primary functions include welfare for freedom fighters, preservation of Liberation War memories, and conveying accurate history to future generations. Recently, handling responsibilities for the martyrs and injured fighters of the July Uprising has been integrated.

The Directorate of the July Uprising has been formed. A gazette notification was issued on April 30, 2025 by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, named it "Ordinance on Welfare and Rehabilitation of Families of Martyrs and July Fighters, 2025." This directorate will maintain records of martyrs, provide one-time and monthly assistance to families of martyrs and injured fighters, and arrange their rehabilitation.

Reflecting on the ministry's performance at the interim government's one-year milestone, the Adviser admitted that the ministry has endured tough challenges with limited time and heavy workload. "As a battlefield freedom fighter myself, I was disheartened to receive 90,000 applications claiming freedom fighter status. I vowed to verify each one, which led to legal proceedings," he said. Instead of decreasing over 54 years of independence, the list of freedom fighters grew unexpectedly, he added.

He said the administrative responsibility for the welfare of July martyrs and injured was formally assigned to the ministry on December 12, 2024.

The ministry took charge of welfare and rehabilitation programs for July fighters and martyr families. Though 844 martyrs from the uprising were officially gazetted, eight were later removed upon review, leaving a total of 836. Based on categories of injury, gazettes were issued for 13,800 injured fighters: 602 in Category A, 1,118 in Category B, and 12,080 in Category C.

To oversee their welfare, the Directorate of the July Uprising was gazetted on April 28, 2025. On June 17, 2025, the "Ordinance on Welfare and Rehabilitation of Martyrs' Families and Injured Students and Citizens of the July Mass Uprising, 2025" was issued.
The Adviser disclosed that Tk 97 crore 50 lakh 28 thousand 102 has been spent on overseas treatment for injured fighters, of which 11 received in Singapore, 1 in Russia, 59 in Thailand, and 7 in Turkey.

According to ministry data: In the first phase (FY 2024-25), 772 martyr families received TK 10 lakh each in savings certificates, totaling TK 77 crore 20 lakh.

In the current fiscal year (2025-26), 97 families received TK 20 lakh each, while 3 families received TK 30 lakh each, collectively TK 20 crore 30 lakh for 100 families.

Monthly stipends of Tk 20,000 were given to 450 families, totaling Tk 90 lakh.

For July fighters: In FY 2024-25, 493 Category A fighters received Tk 2 lakh each, totaling Tk 9 crore 86 lakh.

In FY 2025-26, 25 more Category A fighters received Tk 3 lakh each, amounting TK 2 crore 43 lakh. A total of TK 12 crore 29 lakh in combined provided for Category A.

Category B: 908 fighters received Tk 1 lakh each in FY 2024-25 (Tk 9 crore 8 lakh), and 140 fighters received Tk 2 lakh each in FY 2025-26 (Tk 2 crore 80 lakh), total amounting Tk 11 crore 88 lakh.

Category C: 10,642 fighters received Tk 1 lakh each, totaling Tk 106 crore 42 lakh.

From FY 2025-26 onwards, Category A fighters receive monthly Tk 20,000. In July, 215 fighters received Tk 43 lakh. Besides, 433 fighters received Tk 64 lakh 95 thousand in July where each receives Tk 15,000 as Category B fighters.

On the other hand, 6,033 fighters received Tk 6 crore 3 lakh 30 thousand in July where each received Tk 10,000 as Category C fighters.

For the first time, Tk 3 crore 4 lakh 20 thousand was allocated nationwide for observing July Uprising Day. All injured fighters are eligible for free priority medical treatment at government hospitals, clinics, health centers, medical college hospitals, and designated specialized hospitals at district and upazila levels.

The total expenditure for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, including overseas treatment, savings certificates for martyr families, one-time grants, monthly stipends, and celebration of the July Uprising Day, stands at Tk 336 crore 64 lakh 73 thousand 102.

The Adviser acknowledged growing concerns over the number of fake freedom fighters, many of whom obtained certificates for financial and social gain. Over the past 15 years, the list of freedom fighters has increased. These fake fighters receive monthly and festival allowances amounting to approximately Tk 2,400 crore annually.

He said that as of 1994, there were 86,000 recognized freedom fighters. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs was established on 23 October 2001 by the then BNP government to oversee their welfare, research, and policymaking. Yet over 30 years, around 122,000 new names were added, bringing the total to 208,050 by 2024. Besides, 89,235 were appointed under the freedom fighter quota in government jobs.

Despite efforts to verify around 90,000 suspected fake applications, legal hurdles persist as many applicants have filed lawsuits after receiving verification notices, he added.

He said that the National Freedom Fighters' Council Act, 2022 has been amended in its "Short Title and Introduction", as well as in Sections 2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 25 of the Act (Act No. 15 of 2022).

Thereafter, in the Act updated with "upholding the ideals of the Liberation War in national life, implementing the goals of the Liberation War, and the valiant freedom fighters, associates of the Liberation War, families of the freedom fighters, and families of the associates of the Liberation War".
 The Liberation War Affairs Adviser said that some people attempted to misinterpret the term "freedom fighter"; they have been given clarification. The President of the Mujibnagar Government Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam; Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad; and the two ministers, M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman along with who were in the Mujibnagar Government, are also freedom fighters.

Those who fought the Liberation War with arms and who organized it are freedom fighters. Officials and staff of that government, however, are auxiliary freedom fighters. The distortions in the definitions of "freedom fighter" introduced in 2018 and 2022 have been corrected to return to the definition established by the government of 1972.

He noted: under the National Freedom Fighter Council (Jamuka) Ordinance, diplomats and personnel of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra are classified as auxiliary freedom fighters. Being "auxiliary" does not diminish their honor. People who did not directly participate in the Liberation War are considered auxiliaries. However, the Mujibnagar Government members, the Biranganas, and doctors, nurses, and medical assistants who treated the injured have been recognized as freedom fighters.

The National Freedom Fighter Council (Amendment) Ordinance was issued for public information on June 3 by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. On May?15, the Advisory Council's meeting gave final approval to the draft of the 2025 amendment to the National Freedom Fighter Council (Amendment) Ordinance.

In the new ordinance, "Liberation War" is defined as: "the war conducted from 26 March to 16 December 1971 by the people of Bangladesh, as a free democratic state, in pursuit of establishing equality, human dignity, and social justice against the invading and occupying Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators such as Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, the Nizam-e-Islam, and the Peace Committee." The ordinance also stipulates that, in addition to the government-in-exile during the Liberation War, four categories of recognized "valiant freedom fighters" shall be considered "collaborators of the Liberation War."

According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs that although the country achieved independence through the 1971 Liberation War, even 54 years later the exact number of freedom fighters has not been determined. Successive political governments have increased the list of freedom fighters each year for political and manipulative purposes, sometimes more than doubling it. After the current non-political interim government took charge, complaints were filed from all 64 districts identifying 90,000 fake freedom fighters. According to the National Freedom Fighter Council (Jamuka), the total may exceed one lakh. Jamuka is conducting the verification process of these questionable entries.

Jamuka mentioned that field work to identify fake freedom fighters has begun. In the first phase, hearings were held in the Cumilla Circuit House for 31 individuals alleged to be fake freedom fighters. The hearings included local administrators, complainant freedom fighters, respected local individuals, the accused individuals, and sometimes their wives and children, with accounts and evidence from the Liberation War period. Further alleged cases will be examined in subsequent hearings.

After the student-led uprising in July, when the interim government was formed, Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik became Adviser of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. A week after assuming the role, he directed verification of freedom fighter certificates and lists. Following his instructions, thousands of complaints regarding fake freedom fighters were filed with both the ministry and Jamuka from districts and upazilas. The National Freedom Fighter Council has been fully reconstituted; it believes that to protect the honor of genuine freedom fighters, those falsified must be identified. Therefore, testimonies and evidence from that era are being meticulously examined to uncover the truth.

Jamuka said that to date, the number of freedom fighters receiving benefits in the country is 208,050, while 89,235 have been appointed under the freedom fighter quota in government jobs. Approximately 2,719 cases have been filed across 14 categories, including certificate cancellations and age-limit issues. So far, 2,111 certificates have been revoked because individuals were under the determined age of 12 years 6 months. Over the past 15 years, 3,926 freedom fighter certificates have been canceled. The government's annual expenditure on these nearly 90,000 fake freedom fighters is estimated at Tk 2,400 crore.

Currently, a freedom fighter receives a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000, along with Tk 10,000 each for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, Tk 5,000 on Independence Day, and Tk 2,000 on Pohela Baishak.