Move to redefine freedom fighter rejected

The Advisory Council has rejected the Liberation War affairs ministry's proposal to amend the definition of "freedom fighter" and instructed the ministry to submit a revised proposal in its draft ordinance, according to council sources.

Apart from the definition, the rest of the ministry's draft ordinance -- aimed at amending the National Freedom Fighters' Council Act-2022 -- was accepted during the 28th meeting of the Advisory Council on May 15.

At least four senior government officials with direct knowledge of the matter told The Daily Star that the Advisory Council did not accept the proposed redefinition of freedom fighter.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior official said, "The council said the current definition should remain. The definition proposed by the ministry will not be adopted."

In response to a query, the official clarified, "There will be no separate category called 'associate freedom fighter'. The existing definition will remain unchanged."

Another government source said that due to a lack of consensus at the meeting, the ministry was instructed to revise the proposal in the ordinance and place it before the council again.

Contacted yesterday, Ishrat Chowdhury, secretary of the Liberation War affairs ministry, said, "After the draft ordinance was placed before the Advisory Council, it gave instructions regarding the definition [of freedom fighter]. Once we receive a resolution from the Cabinet, we'll be able to say what changes will be made."

Following the meeting, a press release issued by the Cabinet Division stated, "The draft of the 'National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance-2025' has been given final approval, subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division."

An organisation named Freedom Fighter Council has congratulated the Liberation War affairs adviser and the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (national freedom fighters council or JAMUKA) on the approval of the proposed ordinance.

A press statement, signed by the organisation's Chairman Monowarul Islam and Secretary General Rashid Noman, said, "Although conditionally approved, we hope the ordinance will soon be vetted without any changes by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division and published in the form of a gazette."

PROPOSED DEFINITION

Under the existing law, anyone who contributed to the cause of the war at home or abroad is officially recognised as a "Bir Muktijoddha" (valiant freedom fighter). This includes elected public representatives and armed fighters who supported the Liberation War, Biranganas (war heroines), members of various forces, professionals, journalists, athletes, artists, cultural activists, employees of the Mujibnagar government, and doctors and nurses of field hospitals.

The ministry's proposed amendment sought to introduce two separate categories: "Bir Muktijoddha" and "Muktijuddher Shohojogi" (associates of the Liberation War).

Under this classification, those who actively fought in the war -- members of various forces, Biranganas, and those who served in field hospitals -- would be recognised as "Bir Muktijoddha".

Professionals, artists, journalists, diplomats, and others who helped build international opinion in favour of the war were called "associates of the Liberation War" in the proposal.

The Advisory Council rejected this classification.

Previously, a panel of legal experts under the Cabinet Division had advised the ministry that redefining the term could lead to complications -- a warning the ministry did not heed.

Ministry sources said that even during the Awami League's tenure, a policy-level decision had been made to prepare a list of "allied freedom fighters". The then minister, AKM Mozammel Haque, had initiated efforts to compile a new list of "associates" to the Liberation War, beyond those already recognised as "Bir Muktijoddha". The initiative never materialised.

OTHER ACCEPTED PROPOSALS

In the draft ordinance, all instances of the phrase "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" in the current JAMUKA have been omitted.

The existing law includes several references to people having "responded to the call for independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" -- these lines have also been removed.

The ministry has additionally proposed changes concerning the council's financial operations, including fund management and investment procedures.