Parliament passes freedom fighters bill retaining Jamaat as collaborator of Pakistani forces
The amended law keeps references to the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami and Nezam-e-Islam as forces opposed by freedom fighters.
Parliament on Thursday (9 April) passed the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (Amendment) Bill, 2026, retaining the names of parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, as collaborators of the Pakistani occupation forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
The amended law keeps references to the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami and Nezam-e-Islam as forces opposed by freedom fighters.
The bill was placed in the House by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Aazam Khan during the session of parliament and was later passed.
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However, Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman objected to the inclusion, demanding that his party's name be removed from the list.
"The names of the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami and Nezam-e-Islam were not included in the definition by the rulers after independence," he told the House, adding that past governments had also not incorporated them.
According to the law, "Bir Muktijoddha" refers to those who actively participated in the Liberation War between 26 March and 16 December 1971 against Pakistani forces and their local collaborators, including Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, political parties and peace committees.
The definition also recognises members of the armed forces, East Pakistan Rifles, police, Mukti Bahini, the Mujibnagar government, naval commandos and Ansar members who contributed to the war effort.
Objecting to this definition, Shafiqur Rahman said, "The names of the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami and Nezam-e-Islam were not included in the definition by the rulers after independence."
"Late President Ziaur Rahman did not include them. A three-time honourable prime minister also did not include them," he said.
Meanwhile, the party's ally, the National Citizen Party (NCP), submitted a written note to the speaker expressing no objection to the bill.
