Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has issued a notification cancelling the gazette of senior journalist Enamul Kabir Tuku as a freedom fighter. On October 26, a notification, signed by Haridas Thakur, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, identified him as a “false freedom fighter” and cancelled his gazette.
The cancellation of his gazette went viral on social media, particularly on Facebook, on the night of October 28.
Enamul Kabir Tuku, a resident of Mahishkhola village in the Pachgram Union of Kalaiya Upazila, Netrakona District, is the son of Abu Bakkar Siddique. He has been a journalist for a long time, working as the Netrakona correspondent for the national daily newspaper Amader Somoy. He permanently resides in the Kurigram area of Netrakona municipality. Local freedom fighters have reported that, in addition to Tuku, the gazettes of three other individuals in Netrakona have also been cancelled due to fraudulent claims of being freedom fighters.
The issue of false freedom fighters’ gazettes first came to light when Neowaz Mahamud Bhiku, a US-based resident of Mahishkhola, Netrakona, raised the matter. In a phone interview, Neowaz Ahmed Bhiku stated, “Journalist Enamul Kabir Tuku is a fake freedom fighter. He received the freedom fighter certificate in exchange for money. If he is brought under the law, all the details will come out.”
Former President of the Netrakona Freedom Fighters’ Association, Bir Freedom Fighter Md. Tobibor Rahman, shared that they have been campaigning for a long time to cancel the gazettes of false freedom fighters in Netrakona. He further claimed that there are still several fake freedom fighters in Netrakona whose gazettes should also be revoked.
Netrakona District Commissioner Sharmin Akter Jahan mentioned that Enamul Kabir Tuku’s documents related to his freedom fighter status were thoroughly reviewed. After the investigation report was submitted to the relevant ministry, higher authorities issued a notification cancelling his gazette as a freedom fighter.
