Mohammad Younus’s government faced widespread criticism at home and abroad for designating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a ‘collaborator in the Liberation War’ instead of a ‘freedom fighter’. On Tuesday night, a gazette notification cancelled the freedom fighter titles of over four hundred politicians. The new notification stated that only those who directly took up arms would be considered freedom fighters. Since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not participate directly in combat, he would not be recognized as a freedom fighter. This decision sparked intense anger from the public and various quarters.

Under immense pressure, the caretaker government was forced to revoke the ordinance within a day. On Wednesday, Farooq-e-Azam, the government’s advisor on Liberation War affairs, announced that all ministers and members of the Mujibnagar government formed during the Liberation War would be considered ‘valiant freedom fighters’. However, those who assisted that government would be regarded as collaborators of the Liberation War. Although the Younus government did not directly admit to revoking the notification, Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui, the cultural affairs advisor, claimed the entire matter was ‘fake news’. He shared ‘screenshots’ on Facebook, stating that the new ordinance clearly recognizes all members of the Mujibnagar government as freedom fighters. However, questions have been raised about Farooqui’s claim, as he himself signed the final draft of the amendment to the National Freedom Fighter Council (JAMUKA) Act on March 10, which stated that Bangabandhu and over four hundred other leaders would lose their freedom fighter status.