Business of fake FF certificates

PROFITEERING and the taking of undue privileges over the Liberation War are currently taking place by some bureaucrats even after 44 years of Independence. Five top bureaucrats have been found holding forged freedom fighter (FF) certificates in the second regime of this government while its first regime was entangled in counterfeited crests distribution to our foreign friends who contributed much to our Liberation War. The government adversely failed to uphold the sanctity of the spirit of the country’s existence. Experts on Public Administration said the FF certificate forgery would not be checked unless the privilege for freedom fighters or their wards was limited or properly monitored.
The Ministry of Public Administration on Monday show-caused four senior bureaucrats accused of forging the FF certificates as per the ACC enquiry report with the approval of the Prime Minister’s office. These officers are to submit their reply in self-defense within ten days. Earlier on September 22, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (MoLWA) cancelled the FF certificates of these accused public servants through a gazette notification. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry had recommended legal actions against the top bureaucrats, but it is feared that the top bureaucrats would not get due punishment, even though they derogated the Liberation War and dishonoured the martyrs.
The accused civil bureaucrats are health secretary Niaz Uddin Mia, former liberation war affairs secretary KM Masud Siddiqui, Public Service Commission secretary AKM Amir Hossain and former MoLWA joint secretary Abul Kashem Talukder. The FF certificate of Molla Waheeduzzaman, former principal secretary to the PM Office and currently Chairman of Privatisation Commission, was also suspended but with provision to appeal. The ACC’s primary investigations found that the five officials had ‘managed’ the FF certificates after the government extended the retirement age of freedom fighters working in bureaucracy though they did not participate in the war in 1971. The ACC revealed that former state minister for MoLWA Tajul Islam illegally awarded the FF certificates to the accused bureaucrats without approval from National Muktijoddha Council. Tajul Islam and his Ministry’s former secretary KM Masud Siddiqui were also found involved with the counterfeited crest scam but are being stayed at large.
But it cannot be enough to cancel the FF certificates, offence like that has been committed so they should be criminally prosecuted. Issuing fake freedom fighter’s certificates has been a good business. Those who made money by distributing false freedom fighters’ certificates must be identified and punished.