In a move that has triggered widespread debate and controversy, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Mohammad Yunus, has issued a new ordinance that reshapes the country’s legal definition of “freedom fighter” or Bir Muktijoddha. The change has resulted in the removal of official recognition for several iconic figures of the 1971 Liberation War, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh.
The ordinance, announced late Tuesday night, amends the National Freedom Fighters Council Act. With this change, over 400 individuals—many of whom played instrumental roles in Bangladesh’s independence—have lost their status as freedom fighters. Among those affected are members of the wartime Mujibnagar Government, including prominent political leaders such as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmad, and Syed Nazrul Islam. These individuals, who once held legislative or administrative positions during the war, will now be officially categorized as “associates of the Liberation War” rather than as freedom fighters.
The new classification also extends to professionals and civilians who supported the liberation cause from outside the battlefield. This includes doctors, nurses, civil servants, journalists, artists, radio broadcasters from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, and players from the Swadhin Bangla Football Team. While their contributions are still acknowledged, their roles are now seen as supportive rather than combative under the revised law.
The Implications of This Change
The implications of this change are far-reaching. The status of “freedom fighter” in Bangladesh carries not just symbolic weight but also tangible benefits. Those who lose this status may no longer be eligible for state-sponsored pensions, priority in housing and land allotments, quotas in public employment and education for their descendants, or free access to government healthcare facilities. The ordinance, therefore, affects both recognition and the associated entitlements that many veterans and their families have relied upon for decades.
Alongside the reclassification, the government has also updated the legal definition of the Liberation War itself. It now officially refers to the period between March 26 and December 16, 1971, as a struggle to establish an independent, democratic state against the Pakistani armed forces and their local collaborators, including groups like Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and certain political parties. Under this revised definition, only those who physically engaged in military training—either within the country or in India—and directly participated in combat operations are considered true freedom fighters.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Status Downgraded
Perhaps most controversially, the ordinance removes all references to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the “Father of the Nation” from the relevant laws. While his historical significance remains undeniable in the public consciousness, his legal status as a freedom fighter has now been rescinded under the current framework.
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from historians, scholars, and segments of civil society. This development arrives at a politically sensitive time in Bangladesh, with the country facing economic challenges, political unrest, and uncertainty around upcoming national elections. Many fear that such a drastic redefinition of historical roles could deepen divisions and further politicize the legacy of the Liberation War.
For countless families of veterans and for the general public who have grown up revering the names now delisted, the change is not just administrative—it feels personal. The contributions of those who helped shape the nation’s destiny are now at risk of being diminished in the eyes of history, not because of their actions, but due to shifting interpretations of what it means to have fought for Bangladesh’s freedom.
