New list of FFs by Dec 16, says minister

The government will make a new list of freedom fighters by Dec 16 by redefining the 1971 war veterans, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Muzammel Haque has said. He made the announcement on Tuesday while speaking with reporters after a programme at Uttar Laskarchala in Gazipur's Kaliakoir Upazila. Haque said, "Many have obtained freedom-fighters certificate on providing false information. That's why we are going to fix the definition of freedom fighter." "And only those who match that definition will be enlisted as freedom fighters." The minister said, "I'm assuring you that we'll finalise the list by Dec 16 and all of them will be given certificates and identity cards before March 26 (next year)." According to media reports, the government has formed a sub-committee, led by former state minister for primary and mass education Motahar Hossain, to fix a 'new definition of freedom fighters' after the accusations against several senior bureaucrats surfaced that they obtained certificates illegally. The government has also decided to scrutinise the applications submitted at the National Freedom Fighters Council for freedom-fighter certificates from the Upazila level, according to a news agency.