The Bangladesh government, led by chief advisor Mohammad Yunus, on Tuesday night issued an ordinance that redefined the term “freedom fighter” (Bir Muktijoddha).
This redefinition has resulted in the revocation of the ‘Bir Muktijoddha’ status for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The official recognition of over 400 political leaders from the Bangladesh Liberation War, including Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamaruzzaman, as freedom fighters has also been revoked.
According to the ordinance, published by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Law, these leaders will now be classified as “associates of the Liberation War” (Muktijuddher Shohojogi) rather than freedom fighters.
According to the updated definition, a Bir Muktijoddha is someone who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, either trained within the country or crossed the border into India to join training camps, with the clear intent of actively participating in the war for independence against the occupying Pakistani forces.
Recognised freedom fighters must be civilians who were of the minimum age as determined by the government during the time of war. Additionally, the members of the armed forces should be known as freedom fighters.
Women who were subjected to torture by the Pakistani forces and their collaborators (Biranganas), as well as all doctors, nurses, and medical assistants who provided treatment to wounded freedom fighters in field hospitals during the war, will continue to be regarded as freedom fighters.
This is not the first time the Yunus-led interim government has tried to erase Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the country’s history ever since toppling her daughter Sheikh Hasina’s government last year following months-long protests.
On Monday, the country’s central bank announced the release of newly designed banknotes, which replace the portrait of the nation’s founding father with images of natural landscapes and traditional landmarks.
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Until now, all banknotes featured the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh to independence from Pakistan in 1971 and was later assassinated in a military coup four years later.
