The National Freedom Fighters Council, or JAMUKA, has recommended cancelling the gazettes of 6,465 people identified as non-freedom fighters since 2010. The information was presented on Tuesday at the first meeting of the 13th National Parliament’s standing committee on the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs at Parliament House. The meeting reviewed the activities of the ministry, JAMUKA, the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust and the July Mass Uprising Directorate.

Since JAMUKA was formed in 2010, it has recommended listing 18,417 people as freedom fighters. This includes 768 martyrs, 198 war-wounded freedom fighters, 529 Birangonas and 16,922 general freedom fighters. Applications from 222 people seeking inclusion as Birangonas remain pending.

The meeting was also told that 104 recommended freedom fighters are awaiting gazette publication following scrutiny by a subcommittee formed after the July uprising. Hearings are pending on 202 applications filed against freedom fighters receiving allowances. Sources said committee member Gazi Nazrul Islam, who was expelled from Jamaat, was not invited at the party’s request, and Jamaat has sent a letter seeking his removal from the parliamentary committee.