Bangladesh interim government Liberation War Affairs adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Bir Pratik on Wednesday asked fake freedom fighters, who managed to get certificates as 1971 veterans to return the credentials voluntarily to evade punitive actions.
鈥楾he fake freedom fighters will be granted a general amnesty if they return the certificates voluntarily. Otherwise, they will be exposed to punitive actions,鈥� he told at a press briefing at his ministry conference in Dhaka.
The adviser said his ministry, by now, had taken a step to verify the number of real freedom fighters, initially those who were appointed in government jobs under the freedom fighters鈥� quota.
He said works were under way to identify fake freedom fighters and introduced a form on the ministry鈥檚 website to receive information or complaints.
He mentioned that a process was also initiated to collect information from all ministries to prepare a complete list of those appointed under the freedom fighters鈥� quota.
The adviser said 89,235 people were currently engaged in government jobs under the FF quota.
He said a court case procedure was now pending regarding the cancellation of certificates of 2,111 freedom fighters aged below 12 years and 6 months.
鈥榃hen this matter is decided by the court, we will cancel their certificates. We will also take steps for their punishment as well,鈥� Azam said.
He said once the verification process was completed, it would work as a deterrent for any fraudulence in the name of the Liberation War.