36 titled freedom fighters have condemned and protested the attempt to repeal the 1972 constitution. They said that the state is in the process of amending or updating the constitution to meet the aspirations of the people as per the need of the hour. But the issues achieved and resolved through the Liberation War cannot be questioned or changed.

These were the words of 36 titled freedom fighters of the Freedom Fighters Association in a joint statement sent to the media today, Monday. They condemned and protested, alleging that since the political change on August 5, the freedom fighters have been beaten, humiliated, their homes vandalized, and the offices of the Freedom Fighters’ Association have been vandalized and set on fire across the country.

The statement said that repealing the 1972 constitution achieved through the great Liberation War means denying our great Liberation War and betraying the 3 million martyrs of the Liberation War. In the more than half a century since Bangladesh became independent, the previous governments have repeatedly distorted the original constitution of 1972 in their own way to achieve their interests, thus going against the original spirit of the liberation war.

In the statement, the brave freedom fighters urged not to make any statements about throwing away the constitution of 1972 or writing a grave. They said, ‘The constitution of 1972 cannot be repealed under any circumstances, but rather we strongly demand from the current interim government that the original constitution of 1972 be reinstated in its entirety.’

The statement was sent to the media by the Secretary General of the Titled Freedom Fighters Association Md. Shahjahan Kabir (Bir Protik). The signatories include AW Chowdhury Bir Uttam and Bir Bikram, Captain (Retd.) Shahab Uddin (Bir Uttam), Major (Retd.) ATM Hamidul Hossain (Bir Bikram), Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Abdur Rouf (Bir Bikram), Honorary Captain (Retd.) Abdul Haque Bir Bikram, Abul Kalam Azad (Bir Bikram), Major General (Retd.) Md. Masudur Rahman Bir Protik, Captain Kazi A. Sattar Bir Protik, DIG (Retd.) Kazi Joynal Abedin Bir Protik, Md. Momin Ullah Patwari Bir Protik and Anwar Hossain Pahari Bir Protik.

The other freedom fighters who signed the letter are Mizanur Rahman Khan, who has been awarded the title of Bir Protik, Mozammel Haque Mahbub Elahi Ranju, Nur Uddin, Mohiuddin Manik, Bahar Uddin Reza, Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Delwar Hossain, Ratan Ali Sharif, Syed Rezwan Ali, Rafiqul Islam, Golam Azad, Md. Idris Ali, Anwar Hossain, Anisur Rahman, Major (Retd.) Waqar Hasan, Sardar Mohsin Ali, A. Hakim, Bazlur Mahmud, Nurul Haque, Nurul Islam, Habibur Rahman, Fazlul Haque, Abdullah and Abdul Gafur.