Lt Gen (retd) Harun-or-Rashid: It is important for the state to prepare a list of anti-Liberation War forces and those opposing freedom fighters—a matter that cannot be described easily and dubbed simple. The Liberation War is a historic event. It needs to be clarified who was for and against the war. In this regard, a list of both groups each is a must. Instead of doing so, we are competing for making a list of freedom fighters.We have not seen any government move to make such a list of the anti-Liberation War forces as yet. Duly, there was no development in this case till date. Owing to the situation, many people committing sedition and those, who are against the war, are on top positions in the society and well established. They reign supreme in the society because they were not identified as Razakars. The commoners do not know them and the new generation, too, are not well familiar with them and do not know details about them. Nobody seems to be concerned about the matter. The Razakars (collaborators) opposed during a crucial stage of our yet-to-be-independent Bangladesh. They fought against us by going against the Liberation War. They harmed us a lot. If they had not battled against us, we could have gained independence in just five months instead of the nine-month-span. We might not have to suffer such bloodshed, havoc and sacrifice. Is not it needed to identify the enemies of the state? Yes, indeed. So it is required to take measures under the state-sponsorship to ascertain who were against our Liberation War and worked on the then West Pakistan’s behalf. This is not the duty of the government alone; rather it is something to be done by the war heroes and we, the people.
The author is a former chief of Bangladesh Army.