Brief History of the creation of Ministry of Liberation
War Affairs |
| and its achievements so far: |
| Bangladesh achieved her independence through great liberation
war in the year 1971 and this is the best achievement
in the history of the nation during the last thousands
of years. We have achieved our Independence through a
nine month long gallantry fight and the highest sacrifice
of countless brave freedom fighters, which resulted into
our long dreamed Red-green National Flag. |
Millions of people had been brutally slaughtered in a
terrific genocide, innumerable were tortured mercilessly,
thousands of martyrs embraced martyrdom and thousands
of women were molested by the Pakistan Army during the
war of independence. Thus we got our freedom at the cost
of tears, blood and sweat of the millions and highest
sacrifice of our beloved ones. Freedom fighters are the
proud sons of the nation. We are not only grateful to
the freedom fighters but also indebted to them. We owe
in particular to Major ZIA who took the risk and steer
the liberation war by declaring the Independence of the
People's Republic of Bangladesh from the Chittagong Radio
Station at Kalurghat in the month of March. |
In our liberation war the participants were general people
including farmers, labourers, students and members of
the uniform services. They fought against the oppression
of the Pakistani rulers and Pakistan Army to achieve an
independent land of our people. The freedom fighters did
not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for independence
of Bangladesh. Thus the whole nation is indebted to the
countless shaheed (martyrs), disabled freedom fighters
and millions of oppressed mass. People of all classes
fought with the same goal for the independence of our
motherland Bangladesh. In turn, we have also some responsibilities
and duties to uphold the dignities of the freedom fighters
and the sons of the martyrs. |
We all know the history of the country after independence.
We could hardly do anything remarkable for the freedom
fighters or for preservation of liberation war memories
for the last three decades. It is very painful that we
could not evaluate the freedom fighters in real sense
for the last 30 years and we have failed to do much for
the benefit of the freedom fighters. We should do something
so that our future generation can know about the liberation
war and the real history of our independence. Actually
we could not undertake a systematic plan in this regard
for want of concerted efforts and effective government
steps. But after 30 years, the present government, realizing
the real importance of the liberation war and sacrifice
made by the freedom fighters felt the necessity for creation
of a separate Ministry for looking after the overall welfare
of the freedom fighters, preservation of historical records
of liberation war and also for preservation of liberation
War memories. As per commitment of the present government
made before election the Ministry of Liberation war Affairs
was established on 23rd October 2001 after great and cordial
efforts of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Freedom fighters got the greatest importance for the first
time ever in the history of Bangladesh and they felt proud
of themselves for such a generous act of the present Government.
|
The major objectives and function of the Ministry: |
(a) To enshrine the hilarious history of Liberation War
of the nation.
(b) To collect, categorize the materials of the history
of Liberation War.
(c) To prepare and implement income generating projects
for the welfare of the freedom fighters and to look after
the well being of Freedom fighters and mamily of Martyr
Freedom Fighters.
(d) To construct commemorative monuments relating to Liberation
war and undertake different projects to preserve the glorious
history of the Liberation war.
(e) To provide honorarium and grant to the Freedom Fighters
and the family of Martyr Freedom Fighters.
(f) To undertake programs and projects for research on
liberation war and collect data and information to preserve
genuine history of Liberation War.
(g) To maintain the sites of genocide and shrines of the
martyr freedom fighters.
(h) To Consider matters and other affairs related to liberation
war and the Freedom Fighters.
(i) To ensure following quota policy during recruitment
to different government offices and autonomous bodies
as has been provided by the government for the sons/daughters
of the Freedom Fighters and Martyr Freedom Fighter's families.
(j) To formulate policies, rules and regulations in order
to provide further opportunities to the Freedom Fighters
and Martyr Freedom Fighter's families.
|
Meanwhile the government has under-taken different projects
and programs for the well being of the freedom fighters.
This is for the first time the innumerable Freedom fighters
enjoy national importance provided through the Ministry
of Liberation War Affairs under the able leadership of
the Honorable state Minister Professor Md. Razaul Karim
The government has taken some program such as finalization
of freedom fighters' list and issuance of certificates
to the freedom fighters, giving monthly honorium and grants
to the distressed freedom fithters. The number of the
stakeholder freedom fighters has been raised from 40,000
to 60,000 by the present government and the monthly honorarium
has also been increased from Tk. 300/- to Tk.500/-. Besides
this, the honorarium of disabled freedom fighters has
also been increased according to their percentage of injuries
as per recommendation of a high powered Medical Board. |
The government has also taken some projects to achieve
the aforesaid objectives. There are as many as 7 (seven)
on going projects and 2 (two) development programs which
are being implemented by the Ministry at the cost of taka
2289.90 million. Main features of the projects/ prorgams
are mentioned bellow: |
a) The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has undertaken
the project entitled 'Liberation war of Bangladesh: Documents
and History Publication'. Under this project 15 volumes
of documents on liberation war have been reprinted. A
publication of photo album is under process. Publication
of 11 sector-wise and 1 (one) brigade-wise documents is
near to completion.
b) Construction of memorial monuments with engraved names
of martyred freedom fighters in all district head quarters:
In 43 districts the work is in progress. The project is
to be completed by the year of 2004.
c) Construction of Shaheed Zia Memorial Complex at Kalurghat
in Chittagong: The Government has undertaken a project
to preserve the memory of the historic declaration of
independence made by Shaheed Zia from the Chittagong radio
station at Kalurghat at a cost of taka 5664.74 Lakhs.
The expected time of completion of the project is June
2006.
d) Construction of monuments at slaughter places: The
objective of the project is to develop and preserve 35
slaughter places used by the occupied army and their local
accompanies during the war of liberation. Cost of the
project is Tk. 574.57 lakh and expected time of completion
is June 2006.
e) Construction of memorial monuments at the graveyard
of 7 Birshresths: With a view to commemorate the memory
of 7 heroes of the soil (Birshresth award received), monuments
will be built at their graveyards. The second objective
of the project is to construct academic buildings in selected
schools and colleges at their birth places. Cost of the
project is Tk. 598.73 lakh and expected time of completion
is June 2006.
f) Mujibnagar Muktijuddha Smriti Kendra Sthapon: The main
objective of the project is to make memorable the 17 April
1971, the day when the new government of Bangladesh was
sworn in a formal oath-taking ceremony held in the large
mango-grove of Mujibnagar at Meherpur. Estimated cost
of the project is Tk. 4525.52 lakh and expected time of
completion is June 2006.
g) Construction of Shadhinata Stambah at Suhrawardi Uddyan,
Dhaka: The objective of the project is to estabilsh the
actual history of liberation by constructing the "Shadhinata
Stambah" at Suhrawardi Uddyan, Dhaka. Estimated cost of
the project is Tk. 7629.61 lakh and expected time of completion
June 2006.
h) Training and Micro credit program for distressed freedom
fighters and their wards:- A program has been launched
under revenue budget in the fiscal year 2003-2004. to
make the Freedom fighters economically self-reliant. Tk.
25 core has been allocated for 'a revolving loan fund'
under this program. The program will facilitate training
for 56,400 persons in various income generating trades
and will also provide credits to eligible freedom fighters.
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The government has contemplation to take more projects for uplifting the economical condition and social position of the freedom fighters in future.
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