Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the government is taking steps to prepare an accurate and widely accepted list of the country’s 1971 Liberation War martyrs and genuine freedom fighters, alleging that the process had been politicised after independence.
“After the Liberation War, when the country became independent, it was necessary to prepare a list of those who were martyred in the war and the freedom fighters. But those who were responsible for this task failed to do it properly and instead presented it in a political manner. The list was not prepared impartially and accurately,” he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while replying to a supplementary question from treasury bench lawmaker Md Ruhul Amin Dulal (Pirojpur-3) in the Jatiya Sangsad, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.
He said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has already formed an expert committee to prepare a comprehensive and credible list.
“While preparing the list, we will make every effort to accurately identify the genuine freedom fighters and the true martyrs,” he said.
Responding to a starred question from the same lawmaker on whether the government has plans to prepare an accurate list of the families of Liberation War martyrs and victims of the 1971 genocide, the Prime Minister reiterated his party’s election commitment to compile a comprehensive database.
He said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has already undertaken several initiatives, including consultations with Liberation War researchers, expert meetings and discussions with stakeholders to develop a practical roadmap.
According to the Prime Minister, these efforts are intended to produce an accurate and broadly accepted list of all Liberation War martyrs and genocide victims while ensuring proper recognition and honour for their sacrifices.
Replying to another supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Md Anwarul Islam (Kurigram-1) regarding the preparation of a depoliticised list of genuine freedom fighters, Tarique Rahman referred to the history of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
“In response to your question, I would like to remind you that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” he said.
He added that Ziaur Rahman was a frontline freedom fighter who fought in the Liberation War and declared Bangladesh’s independence.
The Prime Minister said that since the BNP, founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, is now in government, it considers preserving the legacy of the Liberation War and ensuring proper recognition for genuine freedom fighters to be a national responsibility.
“That is why I said that those who were responsible for preparing an accurate list of martyrs and freedom fighters after the country’s independence presented it politically; they did not do it impartially and correctly,” he said.
He further noted that various complications had emerged over the years regarding the preparation of the list and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preparing a complete and accurate register of genuine freedom fighters with the assistance of experts.
