Denied again

We rejected the latest appeal because, as of February 8, 2022, we are no longer accepting applications for the recognition of martyred freedom fighters.

— Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque

Syed Hafizur Rahman, a martyred guerrilla of Liberation War, has once again been denied the state recognition.

Despite a previous assurance to this newspaper of necessary steps if the family applies afresh, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs outright rejected an application submitted yesterday.

With this, the request for the recognition has now been turned down for the ninth time, leaving the family members in utter despair.

"We've applied nine times now, but never once was our application accepted, let alone given consideration for further review," said Anwara Khatun, the younger sister of Hafiz.

"We have endured harassment in this manner for years. Now, we are feeling so helpless that we are at a loss for words," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"It's as if we've committed a crime by being members of the family of a martyred freedom fighter."

Previously, four of his family members submitted eight applications separately in 1974, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2010, 2013, and 2014. Each of them was snubbed for some unknown reasons.

Regarding yesterday's application, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, said, "We rejected the latest appeal because, as of February 8, 2022, we are no longer accepting applications for the recognition of martyred freedom fighters."

However, on October 23, while speaking on this issue, the minister told this newspaper, "I don't know why the family's applications were rejected every time in the past. The recommendation from fellow freedom fighters alone is enough for state recognition."

He even said, "If they submit a fresh application now, we will take the necessary steps."

This comment was used in a report titled "Half a century gone chasing recognition" published on October 24 by The Daily Star, which detailed the struggle Hafiz's family has been going through just to get recognition for the contribution and sacrifice Hafiz made for his country.

Hafiz was a valiant member of the Crack Platoon, which consisted of a band of youths who were trained in urban guerrilla warfare to carry out covert operations during the Liberation War.

He executed a series of high-risk subversive attacks on army convoys and key installations in Dhaka. His expertise in laying mines and ability to plan effective ambushes had earned him the nicknames "Guerrilla Hafiz" and "Mine Hafiz" within his ranks.

He was captured on August 29 night with other guerrillas and was taken to the Pakistan military torture cell in Dhaka's Nakhalpara, where he was grilled for information about his brothers in arms.

But as he was not one to break, his captors didn't let him return to his family, and his body was never found.

Five decades on, he has been recognised as neither a freedom fighter nor a martyr.

Following the minister's assurance in the October 24 report, Anwara Khatun submitted a fresh application to the ministry yesterday.

Along with the application, attached was the recommendation of veteran Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, a fellow Crack Platoon guerrilla.

Maya, however, declined to make any comment on the latest rejection of Hafiz's application.

Earlier in September, he told The Daily Star, "Hafiz Bhai was a fellow member of the Crack Platoon. I learned from his younger brother that he did not receive the recognition.

"It's a shame for all of us that Hafiz Bhai has not yet received recognition."

Asked why families of martyred freedom fighters were no longer allowed to apply for recognition, Waqar Hasan, Bir Pratik, a member of the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council, said the council made no such decision.

"We never stopped receiving applications for the recognition of martyred freedom fighters. Relatives of martyred freedom fighters can still apply at any time," he told this newspaper yesterday.

"I don't know why the minister made such a comment. He alone can never take such a major decision without consulting all the members of the council."