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A virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday gave political approval to the draft of the ‘National Council of Freedom Fighters Law, 2020’.
Later, in a briefing at the Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said that there was a 2002 National Council of Freedom Fighters Law. That law cannot fully meet the needs of the present time. For this reason, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has prepared a new draft of the Law of the National Council of Freedom Fighters. If this law is approved, the previous one will be repealed.
A list and gazette of those who were involved in the liberation war from March 26 to December 16, 1971 as members of the Razakars, Al-Badr, Al-Shams forces or as members of the paramilitary forces involved in the armed struggle against the war of independence or liberation of Bangladesh. The Muktijoddha Council will make a recommendation to the government for publication. “
Noting that this provision was not in the 2002 law, the cabinet secretary said: “The issue of the listing of racekars has been included in the bill. The law does not detail everything, it will govern. What is meant by anti-independence will be explained in detail in the rule. Let there be law first, then there will be rules. “
The demand for a list of Razakars grew strong after the 1971 war crimes trials began nearly a decade ago. Then, at a press conference on the eve of Victory Day last year, the Minister for Liberation War Affairs published a list of 10,069 “anti-independence” people.
But the list was postponed for correction in the context of anger and criticism, as the names of the freedom fighters and relatives of the martyrs were included in the list.
The Liberation War Minister AQM Mozammel Haque faced criticism in Parliament in January this year. Members of the ruling party themselves criticized the minister. At that time the minister also reported on the completion of a new list.
Then a subcommittee of the Standing Parliamentary Committee of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs began compiling the list.
Cabinet Secretary Anwarul said the proposed new law, as before, contains recommendations to the government to compile a list of true freedom fighters and publish a gazette.
“The Council of Muktijoddha will recommend legal action against licensed and certified freedom fighters based on false information.”
When asked what action the council would take against the freedom fighters’ ‘fake’ credentials, Anwarul said: “It will depend on the crime you committed. You just took the certificate, or took another advantage, or both. Or if your children have taken advantage of it, the punishment will be recommended according to the law ”.
In such cases, action will be taken in accordance with the penal code, the cabinet secretary said.
He said that the bill provides details on the registration of the liberation war and the organizations of freedom fighters, the registration of existing organizations related to the liberation war and the liberation war, the management of the activities of the council. , financing, funds and budget.
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