THE government鈥檚 announcement for the people who did not take part in the liberation war but have managed to get certificates as 1971 veterans to return their credentials on their own is a welcome step forward towards ensuring justice for the people who took part in the war and for citizens who have so far been led to believe that a number of such people joined the war but did not, in effect, do so. In line with what the adviser on liberation war affairs to the interim government in mid-August said, the adviser this time at a press conference at the ministry on December 11 also said that the fake freedom fighters would be held to punitive action unless they surrender their credentials on their own, in which case they would be granted a general amnesty. The adviser has said that the liberation war affairs ministry has taken a step to verify the number of freedom fighters but it would initially deal with the cases wherein freedom fighters have been recruited in public service under the freedom fighter鈥檚 quota. Noting that 89,235 people are now employed in public service under the freedom fighter鈥檚 quota, he has said that a process has already been under way to collect information from all the ministries as part of the move to identify fake freedom fighters.
The move is also welcome as there have always been debates about the number of freedom fighters and the number of people who managed to get freedom fighter鈥檚 certificates without having fought in the war. Yet,聽 no government has ever conclusively decided on the number, which is important in affording benefits to the brave ones of the soil who took up arms to fight for Bangladesh鈥檚 independence in 1971 and many of whom sacrificed their lives. The debate still goes on. But the government鈥檚 announcement warrants some clarifications. It is reported to be offering a general amnesty for the people, especially employed in the government for now, who somehow managed the credentials and used them to their gains without taking part in the war on the voluntary return of the credentials. But people would also like to know whether the general amnesty to be afforded to such fake freedom fighters would entail the loss of jobs that were secured using such certificates under the freedom fighter鈥檚 quota. And, what about other benefits? The government has given an allowance to freedom fighters. On the credentials having returned voluntarily, what would be the step of the government in terms of the allowance so far given to such fake freedom fighters? Cases would not be hard to come by wherein children, or grandchildren, of such fake freedom fighters may have secured jobs or admission to educational institutions.
The government should, therefore, clearly define what the general amnesty in the voluntary return of fake freedom fighter鈥檚 credentials would entail and take steps accordingly. Injustice would, otherwise, continue.
