481 non-freedom fighters dropped since August 2024: Minister

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan has said since the establishment of the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council, 6,476 names have been removed from the Lal Muktibarta and the Indian lists and freedom fighter gazettes.

The government has begun taking strict action against non-freedom fighters included in the freedom fighter gazettes and the Indian lists, he said today (15 April) in response to a question from Rangpur-4 MP Akhter Hossen, during a parliament session presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad. 

The minister said the identification of non-freedom fighters is an ongoing process, adding that actions are being taken based on investigations into specific allegations.

He said many non-freedom fighters have fraudulently got their names included in the Indian list using false information and that strict decisions are being taken against them after verification. 

"Since August 2024, a total of 842 complaints related to non-freedom fighters have been received," Ahmed said. 

Of these, investigations have concluded on 481 cases, with final recommendations made to cancel their gazette entries, Lal Muktibarta listings and Indian list inclusions, he added.

The minister explained that upon receiving complaints, a sub-committee of the council conducts investigations and hearings. 

Once someone is proven to be a non-freedom fighter, an immediate recommendation is made to cancel their certificate and associated benefits, he continued. 

The same process will apply to complaints received from any part of the country, including the Rangpur-4 constituency, he said. 

Previously, 6,476 individuals have been removed from the lists in phases since the council's establishment, a large portion of whom had misused the Indian list, the minister stated.