Parliament has passed the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) Amendment Bill, turning a previous ordinance into law while retaining the names of the Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Nizam-e-Islam Party as associates of the Pakistani occupation forces.
Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan moved the bill during the session of the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday, where it was subsequently passed by a voice vote.
Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition leader, voiced a lengthy objection during the session. However, the Speaker did not put the objection to a vote as Shafiqur failed to specify which particular clauses of the bill he sought to amend.
Conversely, Jamaat’s alliance partner, National Citizen Party (NCP), informed the Speaker in writing that they had no objection to the legislation.
The bill was part of a recommendation by a special parliamentary committee to adopt 98 out of 133 ordinances issued during the interim government’s tenure.
Jamaat MPs had previously submitted a note of dissent to the committee’s report, arguing that if the Jamuka ordinance were passed without changes, existing political parties would be permanently branded as Pakistani associates – a move they described as “unreasonable.”
The Jamaat representatives further contended that the 2002 law enacted by the Khaleda Zia-led government did not label these political parties as collaborators. They argued that identifying political parties as armed forces serves to support “fascist politics.”
As per the passed law, the “Liberation War” is defined as the struggle conducted from 26 March to 16 December 1971 to establish equality, human dignity, and social justice for the people of Bangladesh against the invaders and their local associates.
These associates are explicitly defined as the Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nizam-e-Islam, and the Peace Committees.
The legislation defines a “Bir Muktijoddha” (Heroic Freedom Fighter) as any civilian who underwent training within the country or in Indian camps and actively participated in the war against the Pakistani forces and the aforementioned local collaborators.
Members of the armed forces, Mukti Bahini, BLF and other recognised forces, the police, East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar are also recognised as Bir Muktijoddha.
