Bangladesh Government Revokes 'Father of the Nation' Title from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Significant Legislative Changes in Bangladesh
Dhaka, June 5: The interim administration of Bangladesh has officially removed the title of "Father of the Nation" from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following amendments to a key piece of legislation that redefines the term 'freedom fighter', as reported by various media outlets on Wednesday.
This decision, made on Tuesday, comes shortly after the government led by Muhammad Yunus decided to exclude the image of the nation's founding leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's father from the new currency notes.
According to reports from The Dhaka Tribune, the National Freedom Fighters Council Act has been amended to change the definition of a freedom fighter. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued the relevant ordinance late Tuesday.
The amendment also alters references to "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" within the law, as noted by bdnews24.com, which stated that all mentions of this title have been removed.
Additionally, The Daily Star highlighted that the ordinance introduces minor modifications to the definition of the Liberation War, notably omitting the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which was previously included as the war was fought in response to his call for independence.
The revised ordinance categorizes all Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) linked to the wartime government-in-exile (Mujibnagar Government) as "associates of the Liberation War," a shift from their previous recognition as freedom fighters.
Under the new amendment, any civilian who received combat training or prepared for war between March 26 and December 16, 1971, and participated in the struggle for independence against the Pakistani military and their local collaborators, will now be acknowledged as a freedom fighter, provided they met the age criteria set by the government.
Local collaborators include groups such as Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, the then-Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islam, and members of peace committees. Furthermore, members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police, Mukti Bahini, the Mujibnagar government, and its recognized forces, including naval commandos, Kilo Force, and Ansar, will also fall under the definition of freedom fighters.