Four Bangabandhu assailants lose Liberation War gallantry awards

The government has taken away the Liberation War gallantry awards from four fugitives charged with the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued a statement announcing the decision to revoke the titles of AM Rashed Chowdhury, Mosleh Uddin Khan Shariful Haque Dalim and SHMB Noor Chowdhury.

Bir Uttom titles were stripped away from Noor Chowdhury and Dalim while Bir Protik ranks were removed from Rashed Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin.

Once the awards are stripped, the fugitives and their families will no longer be able to make use of the benefits afforded to freedom fighters.

Last week, Minister of Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Huq announced the decision to revoke their titles had been finalised by the National Freedom Fighters Council.

On December 15 last year, the High Court suspended the awards to the absconding killers. Then, in February, a meeting of the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council or JAMUKA made the decision to revoke the awards and sent it to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for final approval.

Decision should have been taken earlier

“Decision in this regard should have been taken earlier. Specially, the awards should have been revoked when the death penalty was declared. No murderer should have been awarded any title. How the assailants of the father of the nation hold such title so long,” Dhaka University’s former vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique told The Report.   

However, he expressed his satisfaction as the decision has been taken finally. 

Demand raised to reveal the masterminds

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir said, “Liberation War awards of any killer can be withdrawn. Killing the Father of the Nation means killing a constitution and the whole nation. A commission was supposed to be formed when the capital punishment was declared in 2009. The commission would bring the masterminds to light. However, the commission is yet to be formed.”