The Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue smart cards imprinted ‘Beer Mukti Joddha’ (Valiant Freedom Fighter). This card will be handed over to those freedom fighters who apply before January 20.
According to sources, representatives of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs were present at the meeting held on February 13 last year regarding placing the phrase ‘Beer Muktijoddha’ under the chips of the smart national identity cards of valiant freedom fighters. It was unanimously decided to place the phrase ‘Beer Muktijoddha’ under the chips of the smart national identity cards of valiant freedom fighters. The Ministry of Liberation War has given their consent in this regard. However, if a ‘Beer Muktijoddha’ applied for the phrase as ‘Beer Muktijoddha’ in the national identity card, it was decided to be verified by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
After that, Director General of National Identity Registration Division AKM Humayun Kabir instructed the concerned branch to implement the decision. In the instructions, he said that the brave freedom fighters who apply for the smart card till January 20, according to the freedom fighter gazette, should arrange to be given a smart card with the brave freedom fighter imprinted verified by the Ministry of Freedom Fighters.
KM Nurul Huda’s past commission started this program in 2022 to honor the best children of the nation. On February 13 that year, smart cards were given to 100 freedom fighters through a ceremony in a hotel in the capital.
The past commission decided to give special smart card to 1 lakh 83 thousand freedom fighters as per the list published in Bangladesh Gazette. In this case, for the first time, they changed the design of the smart card for a specific category. However, the initiative was stopped when the Ministry objected that the Election Commission had no jurisdiction to issue special smart cards to freedom fighters without any discussion.
At present, the current commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal is launching that initiative in discussion with the ministry. In this case, only if a freedom fighter applies for a special card, the Election Commissioner will dispose of it through proper process.