Legal Notice Demands Full Liberation War Records

A legal notice has been served on the Government of Bangladesh demanding the preparation and publication of a comprehensive, verified national register of the estimated 30 million martyrs and 200,000 women who were subjected to sexual violence during the 1971 Liberation War, along with calls for state compensation for their surviving family members.

The notice, issued on Tuesday (31 March) in the public interest, was submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan. It has been addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and the Director General of the National Freedom Fighters’ Council (JAMUKA).

According to the legal submission, the authorities have been requested to complete and publish an authenticated national list of war martyrs and “Birangona” survivors within 15 days. The petitioner argues that the absence of such a verified register, more than five decades after independence, represents a continuing historical omission that undermines both recognition and justice for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The notice further highlights that while the State currently provides monthly allowances and various benefits to officially recognised freedom fighters, there remains no equivalent structured recognition or welfare framework for the families of martyrs or survivors of wartime sexual violence. This disparity, it argues, constitutes discrimination and a violation of constitutional principles of equality.

It also stresses that a formal policy framework is required to ensure dignified financial compensation and institutional support for the families of martyrs and both living and deceased Birangona women. The absence of such measures, the notice claims, leaves a significant portion of war-affected families outside the scope of state protection and recognition.

The petitioner has warned that if the government fails to take visible and effective steps within the stipulated 15-day period, a public interest litigation will be filed before the High Court under Article 102 of the Constitution of Bangladesh.

Key Demands Outlined in the Legal Notice

In the notice, lawyer Mahmudul Hasan emphasises that the sacrifices made during the Liberation War must be properly documented and formally acknowledged by the State. He argues that the absence of a complete and transparent record undermines historical accountability and denies many families their rightful recognition.

The submission further notes that government recognition of freedom fighters, including monthly stipends and other state benefits, is both justified and necessary. However, it contends that equal moral and constitutional responsibility extends to the families of martyrs and survivors, who have not received comparable institutional attention.

The legal notice frames the issue not only as administrative negligence but also as a matter of constitutional compliance and social justice. It stresses that failure to address these concerns would perpetuate inequality between different categories of war-related beneficiaries.

If pursued in court, the case could potentially prompt judicial scrutiny of existing government records, welfare policies, and historical documentation practices related to the Liberation War.