Revocation of Zia’s state title requires more time

The government will take more time in the process of canceling the 'Bir Uttam' title given to Z Force Commander Ziaur Rahman in the great liberation war. The National Freedom Fighters Council (Jamuka) has already recommended the cancellation of the medal. The government has formed a three-member committee to finalize the process of canceling the title. The committee has been tasked to submit a report along with the collection of documentary information and evidence related to the allegations. However, the government has not set a deadline for the committee to collect documentary evidence on the allegations and submit a report. Multiple sources in the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs provided this information.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has accused former president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman of violating the constitution, assisting the self-confessed killers of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in their emigration and appointing them to important posts.

Those who helped Bangabandhu's killers are naturally criminals. These criminals cannot get any honorable position, award or title. That is why the National Freedom Fighters Council (Jamuka), an organization under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, has recommended the cancellation of Ziaur Rahman's title. But the question was when, how, in what process Jamuka would implement this recommendation.

According to the concerned, the government will have to publish the gazette now to cancel the title. Jamuka's recommendation will be effective after the publication of the gazette. According to Jamuka's recommendation, after the publication of the gazette to cancel the title, all the state facilities available to Ziaur Rahman will be canceled. But no one has given a clear idea of when the process will end. Many have even avoided the issue of which ministry will publish this gazette. They say the issue is sensitive. We do not want to divulge anything for the time being.

Meanwhile, Jamuka also recommended canceling the state titles of Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin, the self-confessed murderers of Bangabandhu, along with Ziaur Rahman's 'Bir Uttam' title. For this, Jamuka has formed a three-member committee comprising former Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, former Shipping Minister, former Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan and Rashidul Alam, members of the National Freedom Fighters Council (Jamuka). It is learned that the committee has been asked to collect documentary evidence related to the allegations and submit a report. The committee was not given any time to complete this work.

Upon asking, Liberation War Affairs Minister AQM Mozammel Haque told the press on Saturday (February 26) evening that the committee would collect information and evidence on the allegations. After collecting documentary evidence regarding the allegations against Ziaur Rahman and on the basis of this report will recommend the revocation of his title. The minister said the committee has not been given any specific time for this. However, it will take two to three months to complete these works, he said.

AKM Mozammel Haque said the ministry would be informed once the committee's report was received. The Ministry will take further action. Asked when all the process will be completed and Zia's title will be canceled, the minister said it may take some time. We may take some time for this.

Incidentally, the 72nd meeting of Jamuka on February 10, in recognition of his important contribution to the liberation war, recommended the cancellation of the state title of 'Bir Uttam' given to Ziaur Rahman after independence. At the same time, Jamuka has recommended the cancellation of the state titles of Bangabandhu's self-confessed murderers Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury, and Risaldar Mosleh Uddin. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has not yet received the minutes of the Jamuka meeting. After receiving the minutes of the meeting from Jamuka, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will complete the rest of the process. That is, the gazette will publish. That is the rule. Because in the past, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has canceled all kinds of gazettes regarding the removal of names from the list.

According to sources, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs may not take the responsibility of publishing the gazette directly as the matter is sensitive. In this case, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs can seek approval by presenting the opinion of the Ministry of Law and the matter to the Cabinet. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will wait for the minutes from Jamuka. None of the ministers and secretaries of the Ministry of Liberation War spoke about this.