At least 12 people who received certificates from the government without being freedom fighters, have applied to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to return their certificates.

Among them is a person who joined the government service with a freedom fighter certificate and retired. One person stated that he had taken the certificate wrongly in his application. Some expressed their regret and apologized. They wrote - 'I am ashamed'.

This information has been learned from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has not agreed to disclose the names of the people who applied to return the certificates. Officials say that since they applied in response to the ministry's call, revealing their names would be socially humiliating. That is why their names are being kept secret.

Farooq-e-Azam, the interim government's advisor on liberation war affairs, had called on those who had received certificates without being freedom fighters to return them at a function in his office on December 11. At the event, he said, many people have registered their names in the freedom fighter list, have been gazetted and have taken benefits. This is akin to cheating the nation. This is not a minor crime, but a very big crime.

The advisor further said, ‘We will give an indemnity so that those who have come as non-freedom fighters can leave here voluntarily. If they leave, they can get a general amnesty. And if that does not happen, as we have said, we will charge them with fraud. Punitive action will be taken against them for fraud.’

After this call, 12 people applied to return the houses.

Faruk-e-Azam told Prothom Alo in his office on March 23 that if anyone wants to return the certificate voluntarily, a specific time limit will be set for it. If anyone returns the certificate within this period, no action will be taken against them. He said, ‘Since money has been spent on them, it is not possible for me alone to take this decision. The proposal will have to be passed by the advisory council. Then a deadline will be set.’

Ministry sources say that one person wrote in his application with his name and identity, ‘I am not a freedom fighter but I took the freedom fighter certificate out of temptation and took benefits from the government. I am ashamed of this immoral act. I have voluntarily applied to return this certificate.’

Earlier, the certificates of five senior officials were cancelled during the ousted Awami League government for obtaining freedom fighter certificates with false information. They were former secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, Molla Wahiduzzaman, Niaz Uddin Mia, AKM Amir Hossain and joint secretary Abul Kashem Talukder. They were accused of using this certificate to extend their service period.

Verification of information of those who got jobs under the freedom fighter quota
After the interim government took office, Advisor Faruk-e-Azam announced on September 15 that a list of those who got government jobs under the freedom fighter quota would be compiled. Verification and selection would be carried out.

Later, the Liberation War Ministry sent a letter to all ministries and departments. In the letter, it was ordered to send detailed information of those who got jobs under the freedom fighter quota in classes one to four to the Liberation War Ministry.

According to the ministry, the list of 89,235 officials and employees who got jobs under the freedom fighter quota working in various government ministries and departments has been submitted.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration, more than 1.45 million officials and employees are working in various ministries, divisions, directorates, offices, corporations and autonomous institutions of the government. Accordingly, about 6 percent are working under the freedom fighter quota.

Advisor Faruk-e-Azam told Prothom Alo that out of about 90,000 applications for jobs under the freedom fighter quota, 40,000 applications have been vetted. The entire strength of the ministry has been used for vetting. It has been seen that many types of fraud have taken place. Many people are working despite not being the children of freedom fighters. He said that further action will be taken if fraud is proven.