# Only those who fought armed battles against Pakistan are ‘freedom fighters’, the rest are collaborators, says advisor

> Faruk-e-Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, stated that only those who fought directly on the battlefield will be recognized as freedom fighters. Others, who supported the war through various roles,…

Published: 2026-10-02 · Desk: Latest · Source: UNB

Faruk-e-Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, stated in an exclusive interview with UNB that only those who directly fought against the Pakistani occupying forces on the battlefield will be recognized as freedom fighters. Those who played roles such as organizing, shaping world opinion, or securing diplomatic support for the independence struggle will be considered ‘associates of the liberation war.’

He mentioned that the current law recognizes eight types of individuals and professionals who did not directly participate in the war as heroic freedom fighters. To address this, an initiative is underway to amend the ‘National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 2022.’ A draft of the ‘National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ has been prepared, and opinions from relevant stakeholders have been gathered. The draft may be presented for approval at the Advisory Council meeting in the first week of March.

Regarding the demand to revoke the certificates of non-freedom fighters, he explained that amendments are needed to the National Freedom Fighters Council Act to clarify the definition. The law will distinguish between those who fought directly on the battlefield and those who supported the freedom fighters in various ways—such as forming public opinion abroad, working at the Independent Bangla Radio Center, or contributing to the Mujibnagar government. According to the revised law, those who fought directly on the battlefield will be recognized as freedom fighters, while others will be classified as collaborators of the liberation war. He emphasized that no one objects to allowances or privileges but stressed that only those who fought directly on the battlefield should hold the title of freedom fighters.

Original reporting: https://unb.com.bd/bangla/category/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B7%20%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%81-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A3%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99,-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%80--%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE/101354?fbclid=IwY2xjawIrtYtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcGL30vp-mNGMC65hXxaEHwgRHiRMyBYrAtpY38zkf4TBW2HTDqTZFpryg_aem_YdYP6pB1PrPSJZpJZ7LTsw
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