A grand - conference of the officers and employees of the Mujibnagar Government-in-exile and the freedom fighters, presently serving the Bangladesh Government, concluded in Dhaka recently. For obvious reasons, this conference was of much significance. not only to the participants, but to the patriotic citizens of the country as well.

The urgency of such a con ference was felt more seriously for we find, much to the dis may of us. the freedom-fight era. that the ideals and pride that inspired us to risk our lives at the battle fronts are indeed put to test at this crossroads of our national life

I recalled at the conference that on June 6 test, four thou sand miles away from Dhaka at Normandy in France, the US President Bill Clinton had ad dressed a similar grand assembly of the war veterans of the Second Great World War President Clinton told the war veterans of six European countries including USA. Britain and France : "You are the forces of freedom When you «tpre young, you have saved the world, the world Is enjoy-irtg 50 years of freedom because of your heroism. We are the children of your sacrifice '

He also said "We commit ourselves. as you did to keep that lamp of freedom burning for those who will follow You completed your mission here. But the mission of freedom goes on: the battle continues. The longest day is not yet

I was impelled to draw the attention of the audience to that evocative speech of the Presideat of the USA the most powerful nation on earth.

In ail certitude that was a fitting tribute to the dedication of the war veterans to the cause of freedom. It is unfortunate that there is none to in-sphe us in the same fashion In our country. Bangladesh. By all reckoning, the freedom-fighters occupy an enviable place of honour and esteem in the annals of our national history. Because they were the torchbearers for the entire nation during those blood stained days of our liberation war in 1971. In one of those fateful dark nights, they chose to come out of their homes without Informing parents and not knowing what was In store for them. They did ’not know if at all they would be able to come back home or to their dear mothers. But what they knew for sure was that unless their country was freed they would never be able to return to their native soil. In those days, they fought in battlefronts braving heavy odds much to the risk of their fives. Before thetr very eyes their comrades got killed But nothing could deter them in their resolve to achieve freedom, for that was their-cherished objective, the polestar

Upon freedom many of those freedom-fighter heroes in their changed role took up the responsibilities to rebuild the war-ravaged country as members of the Bangladesh Civil Service They piayed a key rote tn the sphere of the country's development and also earned praise from their fellow countrymen But. strangely, now those freedom-fighters were being withdrawn from districts and made to rot as Officers on Special Duties. Their claim for promotion and consequential benefits were also being ignored to the detriment of their service career. The freedom-fighters serving the Government in other capacities too continue to be deprived of their legitimate service benefits and promotion. But in case they were the.freedom-fighters of a country like. say. USA. then in such a conference. US President would perhaps have said : "We are the children of "your sacrifice.''

We look forward to that great day when the authorities in Bangladesh will, in the same vein, tell the freedom-fighters in such a conference: You are to carry the mantle of leadership in the country's administration, for you had already proved your mettle in 1971. and the country was freed from the shackles of the Pakistani occupation forces

Just remember those fiery days of 1971 when the free dom-fighters had to play the pivotal role on behalf of "the en Ure nation In the liberation war Those were the days when mothers and sisters used to pray In tearful eyes to Almighty Allah for their victory and safe return from battle fronts. Tragically, now they are to shed tears because the wheel of history has been turned to the reverse course. Now. how ironically, the free dom-fighlers have rather become victims of discrimination for reasons, maybe, of being freedom-fighters'.

The prejudiced treatment towards the freedom-fighters now in service aside, their general plight does not pre sent a happy picture either. It is not infrequently that the newspapers and Journals carry stories on the freedom-fight ers and their families languishing in circumstances too deep for tears. Rabindranath Tagore had written so prophetically for us . "Look. that bonfire now wears a tragu. epithet, now you are fated to bear U. stiffer It tn the depth of yOut heart

it is our kheer misfortune that we have now to endure with the devaluation of the role ' of the freedom-fighters and the distortion of history of our freedom-struggle as well. But whoever engaged in such despicable act should do well to note that the efforts of the Britishers to distort history came to no avail as. however belatedly, the Indiahs could find out the truth that Mir Zafar was not the people s leader, but a traitor of the first order and now his name Is being used as the synonym for a traitor in this sutxxintlnenl

The core objective of the freedom fighters conference was to forge unity among themselves to foil any machi nations to distort the history of our liberation war and under mine the role of the freedom fighters. and also the ideals that Inspired us to fight for our cherished freedom. I recall a memorable event :

FF Commander Sector 8. Alamgir. fought valiantly also to revenge the murder of his late lamented father who got killed at the hands of the Pak soldiers at the beginning of the liberation war. Along with pthers. he too had heard over the BBC that Bengalees from all corners of the world were donating to help our freedom -fighters and he could not miss the interview of Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury over the BBC. Encouraged. Alamgir wrote to Justice Chowdhury right from the war front : "Sir. we are fighting for our motherland Ignoring the grave risk to our Ilves. Everyday many precious lives are being sacrificed. I may also have the same fate anytime. I lost my dear father

in this war. We are not certain If we would be able to return alive to see our freedom for which we are fighting a grim battle. We heard over the BBC that you have raised a storm in favour of our freedom In London and other democratic countries of Europe. As one of the most venerated Vice-Chancellors of Dhaka University, may I Implore on you. Sir. that In case we die In the battle you must not die before freedom is achieved for our country."

Despite his busy schedule In London In those days. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury did not forget to send a reply to this emotion-charged letter in the care Mr Anwarul Haque Khan, then the Information Secretary to Bangladesh Government in exile I was asked to deliver this tetter to FF Commander Alamgir Replying to that let-

ter. Justice Chowdhury assured Alamgir : "You. the best sons of the Bengali nation, are fighting for the liberation of our motherland at the risk of your lives. Your heroism and sacrifice at the war front are a source of inspiration to all of us and beckons a new life to each and every soul of our dear homeland. Till we liberate-our country none of us shall rest So long Bangladesh Ilves on the world map, her people shall have to pay the debt they owe you."'

Regrettably, now there la none to honour that commit m«pt to us. The father of the nation Sheikh Mujlbur Rahman la no longer alive. Acting President of the Government In exile who conducted the liberation war. Syed Nazrul Islam, then Prime Minister Tajuddln Ahmed. Minister Janab Monsur All, and Minister

Janab Kamruzzaman also are long departed. The C-In-C in charge of the liberation war is no more. Commanders, national hero General Ziaur Rahman. General Manjur, General Khaled Mosharraf and most of the sector commanders too are gone Now there is none left who would ac--luiowledge the debt.

I recall here the British poet Tedd Hews. In 1988-89, Tedd Hews, known as the best interpreter of nature, came to Dhaka as guest of the then President of Bangladesh to attend an International Poetry Conference. On his way back. I. as one. then serving in the President s Secretariat, was detailed along with the Military Secretary to the President to see off the poet at the Dhaka Airport.

At the WIP Lounge, the poet kindly read out one of his best poems to us. The three lines of the poem had particularly won the hearts of the young poetry lovers of England. In those lines, he told that the humanity is indebted to a tree, to a bird, and also to a waterfall. If that poet a noble soul, had come to Bangladesh again, he would have been shocked to find that the freedom lighters, who at the risk of their lives wrested freedom for their country, are now being humiliated at every step, and he would surely then venture to change those famous three lines and write when a nation

freedom-fighters then certainly man owe no debt to the poor tree, to the little bird or to tiie insignificant waterfall.

Even If presently the historic debts the nation owes to the freedom-fighters for achieving country's liberation are Just forgotten, however regrettable that might be. they at least deserve not to be discriminated against in their service career whatsoever and not deprived of their honour and social recognition as freedom-fighters At this moment, it is Imperative that the free dom-fighters remain steeled in their resolve to keep aloft the ideals which galvanised the en tire, nation to fight for the liberation of their homeland, and win the hearts of the people, to introspect on the role of the freedom-fighters in the con text of our nationhood.

It ts obvious that so long the debts, to whom it is due is not cleared, a kind of imbalance shall continue to haunt the so ciety. To remove this contention is indeed a moral obli gallon of all citizens irrespec Uve of political affiliation

It is a historic truth that unless the freedom-fighters under the Mujibnagar government had taken arms as one body to fight the Pakistani oc cupation forces — then on a rampage of mass killing — the war would not have ended in liberation Again, barring the freedom fighters all-important

role. It was next to Impossible In those days without then} to run the government at Mujibnagar. its radio station. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, to handle the diplomatic responsibilities. and crucially, to conduct the liberation war by the government in exile. Consequently, the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation in the world map would have remained a dream.

In every country, the freedom-fighters are held high in social esteem and given national honour, and also supported with financial and other benefits all their lives. For reasons not known, this aspect has largely gone by default in our country. Surely, it is never too late to rectify the wrongs. In Immediate terms, the grievances of the Mujibnagar officers and employees and freedom-fighters should Justifiably be met As honest and law abiding officers and employees. their allegiance to the government is beyond question and unswerving. It now devolves on the authorities to see that the freedom-fighters can continue to serve the cause of the country with the same zeal and dedication that once crowned them with victory in the liberation war.