The BNP government will focus first on preparing accurate lists of martyrs and genuine freedom fighters from the 1971 Liberation War, with any compilation of lists of Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and other collaborators to be considered later, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan told Parliament on Wednesday.
Responding to questions during the Jatiya Sangsad question-answer session, the minister said work on the martyrs’ list and an error-free roster of authentic freedom fighters is being given priority. He noted that multiple roundtable discussions involving civil society members, academics, researchers, journalists, and valiant freedom fighters have already been held, with more meetings planned to finalise an effective, impartial, and research-based method for the lists.
According to the minister, 6,476 freedom fighter gazettes have so far been cancelled following verification based on various complaints. Currently, 206,536 freedom fighters are receiving allowances. Complaints identifying non-freedom fighters are investigated by a subcommittee of the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) through inquiry and hearings; proven cases lead to recommendations for gazette cancellation, which the ministry then implements. This remains an ongoing process.
On housing, the minister said a new project is being formulated to continue housing construction for distressed freedom fighters. A proposal has been sent to the Planning Commission. If approved, it would provide homes for an additional 25,000 freedom fighters and their families. To avoid past complications over land ownership that excluded many eligible fighters, the government is verifying and listing only genuine freedom fighters who have their own designated land. If all goes well, the second phase could begin next year.
Under existing guidelines, freedom fighters and Liberation War associates receive annual medical assistance of up to Tk 10,000 at upazila-level hospitals, Tk 20,000 at district-level hospitals, and Tk 30,000 at divisional-level hospitals. At specialised hospitals, the limits are Tk 100,000 for ordinary diseases and Tk 500,000 for complex conditions. Spouses of freedom fighters receive up to Tk 10,000 (upazila), Tk 20,000 (district), and Tk 30,000 (divisional), with specialised hospital limits of Tk 50,000 (ordinary) and Tk 200,000 (complex). Further expansion of medical and social security benefits is under government consideration.
The minister also highlighted the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon, Dhaka, which includes a library, along with projects to preserve historic sites and build memorial museums that serve as local repositories of war memory for younger generations.
Controversies over freedom fighter lists, definitions, and related gazettes have persisted across governments. A previous administration published a first list of 10,789 Razakars in 2019.
Under the recent interim government, definitions of freedom fighters were revised via ordinance (introducing “associates”), some projects such as video interviews of fighters were cancelled over accuracy concerns, and further verification and reclassification work continued amid criticism. It also removed the name of Mujahid Bahini, formed with Biharis.
The current government has emphasised neutral scrutiny to remove ineligible names while protecting genuine ones.