On paper, Bangladesh has more than 200,000 freedom fighters. In memory, in history—and among those who actually fought—the number is far smaller.
Fifty-four years after the 1971 Liberation War, the country still does not have a definitive, transparent list of its true freedom fighters. Instead, the national roll remains contested, inflated and politically burdened—an unresolved legacy of lax verification, delayed reforms and decades of entitlement.
The interim government has renewed attempts to settle the matter, but progress has been slow, exposing the depth of the problem and the scale of institutional failure behind it.
Redefining who fought the war
On June 3 this year, the government promulgated the National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, aiming to draw a clear line at last. The ordinance restricts the definition of “freedom fighter” to those who directly participated in armed combat against Pakistani forces in 1971.
Those who supported the war effort in other ways—organisers, diplomats, cultural activists, overseas campaigners and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes—are now to be recognised separately as “associates of the Liberation War”.
The move was meant to bring long-overdue clarity. More than six months later, implementation remains stuck in slow motion.
An inflated list, a shrinking truth
According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, about 209,000 names currently appear in official gazettes as freedom fighters. Yet historical estimates—and assessments by members of the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA)—suggest the actual number should not exceed 120,000.
The gap is staggering.
“We cancel fake gazettes almost every day,” said Shahina Khatun, director general of JAMUKA. “Most complaints we investigate turn out to be false. But verifying the entire list across the country requires far more manpower and funding than we have.”
The verification process is grindingly slow. Of roughly 22,000 complaints submitted so far, only 6,000 to 7,000 have been resolved. JAMUKA now operates four verification teams—double the previous number—but they work only two days a week and can process about 200 to 250 cases weekly.
“At this rate, it will take years,” said Sadeq Ahmed Khan (Bir Protik), a JAMUKA member and veteran of the war.
Copy-paste stories of a war never fought
For those conducting interviews, the fraud has become depressingly predictable.
“When we sit with applicants, we hear the same stories repeated again and again,” Sadeq said. “Everyone says their house was burned on March 25. The details are identical. These are fabricated narratives, not lived experiences of war.”
He believes a significant portion of the current list consists of impostors who entered the system after benefits were introduced.
The problem, he argues, is structural—and political.
How benefits blurred history
In the years following independence, freedom fighter certificates were issued by successive governments, often without rigorous scrutiny. The list expanded dramatically once state benefits—pensions, free healthcare, educational quotas and allowances—were introduced, particularly during the Awami League era.
“The incentives changed everything,” Sadeq said. “What was once recognition of sacrifice became an entitlement worth pursuing.”
That shift, JAMUKA members say, opened the door to widespread misuse.
By contrast, a 1982 committee led by Bir Bikram Amin Ahmed Chowdhury compiled a list of about 92,000 freedom fighters—before major benefits existed. Many veterans still consider it the most credible roll ever produced.
“That list was based on merit, not money,” Sadeq said. “Today, half the names may not belong there.”
Signs of progress, limits of capacity
There have been modest breakthroughs. Around 750 individuals have voluntarily surrendered fake certificates amid public scrutiny and JAMUKA awareness campaigns. Police have submitted 1,500 applications for verification, of which 1,200 to 1,300 were found to be fraudulent.
Still, separating genuine fighters from associates under the new ordinance remains a logistical and legal challenge.
“It is a phased process,” said Israt Chowdhury, secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. “We must first resolve complaints, correct errors and implement court verdicts before finalising the two categories.”
A race against time
For many veterans, the delay is painful—and personal.
“The law now exists,” said Mizanur Rahman Khan (Bir Pratik). “There is no excuse for further delay. We must finalise both lists—freedom fighters and associates—while the real heroes are still alive.”
JAMUKA members warn that legal challenges, bureaucratic inertia and political sensitivity continue to slow the process. Yet they insist the goal is achievable.
“With proper authority and resources, we can reach 95 to 99 per cent accuracy,” Sadeq said. “No genuine hero should be excluded. No impostor should remain.”
He has proposed empowering elected Freedom Fighters’ Parliament committees at district and upazila levels to identify fraudulent claimants and submit verified lists to JAMUKA, easing the national burden.
Sealing history
For veterans of 1971, the demand is simple and final.
“We want this list sealed once and for all,” Sadeq said. “No more additions. No more manufactured freedom fighters.”
More than five decades after independence, Bangladesh is still fighting a quieter battle—not on the battlefield, but over memory, recognition and truth.
And until that list is settled, the war, in some sense, remains unfinished.