A legal notice has formally been served on the Government of Bangladesh calling for the preparation and publication of a comprehensive, verified national register documenting the estimated 30 million martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, along with around 200,000 women who were subjected to wartime sexual violence. The notice also demands structured state compensation and recognition for the surviving families of those affected.
Issued on Tuesday (31 March) in the public interest, the notice was submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan. It has been sent 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).
The petitioner has requested that the government complete and publish an authenticated national list of martyrs and “Birangona” survivors within 15 days. The legal submission argues that more than five decades after independence, the absence of a definitive and verified register represents a serious historical and administrative omission that continues to undermine proper recognition of those who sacrificed their lives and dignity for national liberation.
According to the notice, while the State currently provides allowances and various benefits to officially recognised freedom fighters, there remains no equivalent structured system of recognition, welfare support, or financial assistance for the families of martyrs or for survivors of wartime sexual violence. The petitioner contends that this disparity amounts to unequal treatment under the Constitution and constitutes a violation of fundamental rights to equality and dignity.
The notice further calls for the creation of a formal national policy framework to ensure dignified financial compensation and institutional support for the families of martyrs, as well as both living and deceased Birangona women. It stresses that the absence of such a framework leaves many war-affected families outside the scope of state protection, despite their central place in the country’s history of independence.
The government has been warned that failure to take visible and effective steps within the stipulated 15-day period will result in the filing of a public interest litigation before the High Court Division under Article 102 of the Constitution of Bangladesh.
Key Demands in the Legal Notice
| Area | Demand |
|---|---|
| National documentation | Verified register of martyrs and Birangona women |
| Deadline | Completion and publication within 15 days |
| Financial support | Compensation for affected families |
| Policy reform | Comprehensive welfare and recognition framework |
| Legal consequence | High Court petition under Article 102 if ignored |
In his submission, lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan emphasises that the sacrifices made during the Liberation War must be formally documented, properly verified, and permanently preserved by the State. He argues that the lack of a complete and transparent national record undermines historical accountability and denies many families their rightful recognition.
The notice acknowledges that government support for recognised freedom fighters, including monthly stipends and other benefits, is both justified and an important element of state responsibility. However, it maintains that similar moral and constitutional obligations extend to the families of martyrs and survivors, who have not been brought under any comparable systematic framework of support.
Framing the issue as one of constitutional compliance as well as moral duty, the legal notice warns that continued inaction would perpetuate structural inequality between different categories of war-related beneficiaries. It further stresses that proper recognition is not only a matter of administrative record-keeping but also of national memory and justice.
If the matter proceeds to litigation, it could prompt judicial examination of existing government documentation practices, welfare schemes, and historical record management relating to the Liberation War, potentially setting