Bangladesh Government Redefines ‘Freedom Fighter’ Status, Excludes Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Key Liberation Leaders

 Dhaka, June 4, 2025 — In a move that has already sparked widespread debate and political reaction, the Government of Bangladesh late Tuesday issued an ordinance redefining the legal criteria for the title of Bir Muktijoddha (freedom fighter). The revision has resulted in the removal of official "freedom fighter" status from several prominent figures of the 1971 Liberation War — including the nation’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Also stripped of their recognition are over 400 historically significant leaders associated with the Liberation War, such as Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M Mansur Ali, and A.H.M. Qamaruzzaman. These individuals previously held symbolic and state-sanctioned status as freedom fighters due to their political leadership during the war.

Who Qualifies as a ‘Freedom Fighter’ Under the New Ordinance?

According to the newly issued ordinance, a Bir Muktijoddha is now defined as any civilian who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, either:

• Actively took up arms against the Pakistani military after receiving combat training in domestic villages, or

• Crossed the border into India to formally enroll in training camps with the intention of directly participating in combat during the Liberation War.

In addition to combatants, members of the then-armed forces who fought for independence will also retain their recognition.

The ordinance preserves the status of Biranganas—women who endured torture and sexual violence at the hands of the Pakistani army and its collaborators—as well as all medical personnel who served in field hospitals treating wounded fighters during the war.

Eligible individuals must meet an age criterion as determined by the government, applicable to civilians who participated in wartime activities.

Political and Historical Reverberations

The removal of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the official list of freedom fighters marks a dramatic shift in the state’s historical framework and could reignite fierce political debate. Mujib, widely considered the architect of Bangladesh’s independence, did not participate in the armed struggle directly as he was imprisoned in West Pakistan during the conflict. However, his leadership in mobilizing the movement for independence has long been considered central to the liberation narrative.

While the government has yet to offer a detailed rationale for the exclusions, critics argue that the redefinition risks undermining the broader legacy of political leadership and civilian sacrifice that shaped the nation’s birth.