The decision on revoking the gallantry title awarded by the state to BNP founder and a former President of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, might be taken soon, said officials concerned at the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka).
Officials of the Jamuka, the national council for freedom fighters, said a committee, formed by the Jamuka to investigate into the roles of Ziaur Rahman during the War of Liberation in 1971, is carrying out its tasks.
According to officials, the committee of the Jamuka is expected to submit its reports to the Ministry of War of Liberation Affairs within a month through investigation and verifications of all the allegations against Zia of his 'anti-liberation’ roles.
Earlier on February 9, the Jamuka at its 72nd meeting took a decision to revoke the gallantry title of late Ziaur Rahman for violation of the constituency, abolishing the main principles of the constitution, sheltering and rehabilitating the self-acknowledged killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members and relatives on August 15 in 1975.
It is widely known that immediately after Ziaur Rahman took over the state power, he supported and provided shelters to all the self-acknowledged killers of Bangabandhu by awarding them various positions to serve the government. Zia also had helped some of the killers leaving the country safely. Moreover, Zia had formed his cabinet, many of who had been known to have collaborated with the then Pakistani occupied military rulers.
In this context, the Jamuka in its 72nd meeting recommended for the revocation of the gallantry title of Ziaur Rahman on February 9. The Jamuka also formed a committee to investigate into the allegations.
Led by Jamuka member Mosharraf Hossain, two other members of the committee are lawmakers Shahjahan Khan and Md. Rashidul Alam. The committee was asked to complete its investigation and submit a report along with evidences within two months.
The Jamuka officials said decision on the revocation of Zia’s gallantry title would be taken on the basis of the report of the investigation committee. However, the certificate of Ziaur Rahman, as a freedom fighter, will not be cancelled.
AKM Mozammel Haque, the Minister for Liberation War Affairs, said, "It is widely known to all that Ziaur Rahman was directly and indirectly involved with the assassination of the Father of the Nation.”
“It is not enough. It requires evidential documents. That is why a committee has been formed. The committee will collect all the evidences required and submit its report within two months through in-depth investigation,” said the Minister.
The Liberation War Affairs Minister also said that the report will be made public before the nation to check whether the report is acceptable or not. Then the Jamuka as well as the government will take decision on it.
It should be mentioned that Ziaur Rahman was one of the sector commanders during the War of Liberation and he was awarded with gallantry award ‘Bir Uttam’ by the state. But, later it has been alleged that Zia was linked to the brutal killing of Bangabandhu. And the Jamuka proposed for the revocation of his gallantry title.
Besides, the gallantry titles awarded to Bangabandhu’s four fugitive killers -- Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin--will also be revoked for the assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
Ziaur Rahman had been awarded with the gallantry title ‘Bir Uttom’, the second highest award in Bangladesh for individual gallantry.
According to the liberation war affairs ministry website, Shariful Haque is a Bir Uttom, Nur Chowdhury a Bir Bikrom, Rashed Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin are Bir Protik.
The Jamuka has also decided that the families of Ziaur Rahman and those four self-acknowledged fugitive killers of Bangabandhu would not get any of the state facilities given to them for their contributions in the Liberation War.
