Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan has announced that no new applications for enlistment as freedom fighters will be accepted after Wednesday.
He made the announcement at a press conference at the ministry to determine strategies and action plans for preparing the list of martyrs of the Liberation War, as well as authentic lists of heroic freedom fighters and Birangonas.
Expressing the commitment to work with maximum honesty, transparency, and neutrality, Khan said an accurate list will be prepared rising above party affiliations and opinions.
He stressed that the government aims to flawlessly preserve the authentic history of the Liberation War and compile a correct list of martyrs, heroic freedom fighters, and Birangonas.
“Existing applications will be properly scrutinised to ensure that no genuine freedom fighter is left off the list and no non-freedom fighter or fake person is included,” the minister said.
He emphasised that the government does not want to leave behind any anomalies or controversy regarding the history of the Liberation War or the list of freedom fighters for future generations.
Khan noted that with nearly 55 years having passed since independence, the ongoing acceptance of applications for freedom fighter enlistment is not desirable, adding that this process should have been completed immediately after independence.
While no fresh applications will be received after the deadline, all applications already submitted will be thoroughly examined and evaluated through necessary verification, investigation, and interviews to uncover authentic facts.
Highlighting that the history of the Liberation War is an integral part of national existence and identity, the minister noted that it must be free from untruths, confusion, or anomalies.
He reiterated that along with ensuring due dignity for genuine freedom fighters, preserving this history accurately is a national duty.
In compiling lists related to the Liberation War, priority will be given to information, evidence, and neutral verification rather than emotion or political considerations.
During the press conference, he answered various queries from journalists regarding listing procedures, application scrutiny, recognition of genuine freedom fighters, and government action plans for historical preservation.
Khan assured that the entire verification process would safeguard the interests of genuine freedom fighters while guaranteeing the accuracy and acceptability of the list.
Relevant officials, Liberation War researchers, academics, journalists, and eminent personalities presented their views and recommendations during the session.
