The Bangladeshi government has cancelled the official gazette listings of 481 individuals falsely recognized as freedom fighters from the 1971 Liberation War. Liberation War Affairs Minister A. K. M. Mozammel Haque confirmed the action on April 5, 2026, stating the decision was made to preserve the sanctity of the nation's history.
The minister explained that the names were removed after a thorough verification process by a government committee. The individuals were found to have submitted forged documents to claim the status and associated benefits.
"We are committed to identifying and removing all fake names from the list of freedom fighters," Haque was quoted as saying. The government maintains a national database of verified freedom fighters, and this action is part of an ongoing effort to cleanse the records.
Benefits for genuine freedom fighters in Bangladesh include a monthly honorarium, priority in healthcare and housing schemes, and quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for their descendants.
