Former army chief Lieutenant General (Retd) Harun-Ar Rashid, Bir Pratik, has said that the government should prepare the list of the war criminals -- Rajakar, Al-Badar, Al-Sams and the Shanti (peace) Committee members instead of drawing a fresh list of freedom fighters. He also urged the government to institute an investigation commission within December 16 to start the process of trial of the war criminals.

"During our liberation war in 1971 all people of the country except some Rajakar, Al-Badar, Al-Sams and Shanti Committee members wanted independence of the country. The direct and indirect support of the people inspired the freedom fighters to fight bravely against the enemies. So, all the people except the anti-liberation persons, are freedom fighters," he said while talking to journalists yesterday. All the seven and a half crore people of Bangladesh in 1971 except the anti-liberation elements were freedom fighters. So a list of the Rajakar, Al-Badar, Al-Sams and the Shanti Committee members should be prepared and published before the people of the country, General Harun added.

The former army chief said a committee to amend the definition of freedom fighter was formed in 1971 but he is not aware of any initiative by the government to amend freedom fighters' definition. "After the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, anti-liberation forces were in power for quite a long time. They rehabilitated anti-liberation forces in the country. They also rehabilitated politically fundamentalist forces in the country, which has divided the nation politically. And this is why discussion is going on about the definition of freedom fighter even after 38 years of independence," Harun said.

-The Independent