BNP lawmaker Mujibur Rahman from Gazipur-1 constituency has demanded official recognition of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the late Arafat Rahman Koko as 'child freedom fighters'. He made the demand during a discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the National Parliament on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Mujibur Rahman also called for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to be recognized as a full-fledged freedom fighter for her contribution during the Liberation War.

In his speech, the MP stated that Khaleda Zia and her two sons were held captive by Pakistani forces for nine months in 1971, demonstrating extraordinary patience and patriotism. He described their suffering as a rare example in history and insisted that his proposal was not political flattery but a historical truth.

He further emphasized that granting state honors to Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko as 'child freedom fighters' is now a demand of time, alongside recognizing Khaleda Zia’s role in the Liberation War.