Definitions of Liberation War, Freedom Fighter to be revised

The interim government has taken steps to revise the definitions of the Liberation War and Freedom Fighters by amending the National Freedom Fighters' Council Act 2022.

Under the changes proposed by the National Freedom Fighter Council and published on the Liberation War ministry's website, the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be omitted from the definition of both Liberation War and Freedom Fighter.

The new definition now states: "From March 26 to December 16, 1971, the war was fought to establish an independent democratic state based on equality, human dignity, and social justice, against the Pakistani armed forces and their collaborators, including Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam, and the Peace Committee."

According to the changes to the definition of Freedom Fighters, individuals who did not directly participate in combat such as those trained in India, diplomats and officials of the Mujibnagar government, members of the Mujibnagar National Assembly and later the Constituent Assembly, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes, journalists advocating for the Liberation War, Swadhin Bangla Football Team members, and medical personnel treating wounded Freedom Fighters will be categorised as "associates" of the Liberation War instead of Freedom Fighters.

With this, those who previously received Freedom Fighter certificates without direct combat experience will have their recognition revoked. The ministry has yet to decide on their future status.

Under the existing law, all women who were victims of torture and rape by the Pakistani forces and their collaborators are recognised as "Biranganas" without any conditions.

The new draft introduces an age limit as a condition for Birangana recognition.

The draft also proposes changing the age limit for being recognised as a Freedom Fighter.

The ministry under the previous Awami League government had issued a revised circular on 17 January 2018, setting the minimum age for Freedom Fighters at 12 years and 6 months.

Based on this criterion, those who matched that age as on 30 November 1971 were recognised as Freedom Fighters.

A Liberation War ministry official said following amendments to the law, a new decision will be made regarding the minimum age required to be recognised as a Freedom Fighter.

The revised draft retains references to the groups and organisations fought against during the war and introduces the term "collaborators" to describe those who supported the Pakistani forces.

The public can provide feedback on the proposals until 15 February.

The ministry official also said if the revised new definition is implemented, several thousand individuals will be removed from the list of Freedom Fighters.

Current and new definitions

The existing law defines Freedom Fighters as individuals who responded to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's independence declaration, prepared for war, and fought against the Pakistani forces from 26 March to 16 December 1971.

The revised definition removes Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's name.

Under the existing law, eight categories of non-combatants are recognised as Freedom Fighters: those trained in India, diplomats and officials of the Mujibnagar government, members of the Mujibnagar National Assembly and later the Constituent Assembly, Biranganas (women subjected to wartime violence), Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes, journalists advocating for the Liberation War, members of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team, and medical personnel treating wounded Freedom Fighters.

The new definition of "associates" includes those who inspired Freedom Fighters, accelerated the Liberation War, mobilised public opinion, secured diplomatic support, or played a role in psychological warfare, either domestically or internationally.