Many Freedom Fighters of 1971 are unwilling to be buried with state honours. In recent times, some of them have made written requests to the government seeking an exemption from such honour after death.

Their contention is since they do not receive due respect as freedom fighters during their lifetime, there is no point in posthumous honour.
The policy to honour freedom fighters was formulated in 2005.
Idris Ali, a gazetted freedom fighter in Feni says: “My younger son applied for a job under grade three at the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and was supposed to get preference under the freedom fighter quota. But since I could not pay bribes, he did not get the job.”
“We risked our lives to free the nation but if a freedom fighter’s son has to pay a bribe to get a job, it’s the ultimate humiliation,” he added.
In November last and December, two freedom fighters were buried without state honours as they refused it.
On Nov 25, Abul Khair, a freedom fighter from Panchagarh, refused to accept state honours on the ground that people who did not fight for freedom were enjoying benefits while genuine patriots were often facing denigration.
Stating his grievances, he had written to the district administration. Meanwhile, President of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Md Amin Uddin Mollah, has asked concerned authorities to try to understand why freedom fighters were refusing honours.
“There is complete mayhem over honouring freedom fighters in the country. A list of Razakars published by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs contains names of many freedom fighters.”
There is also a controversy over National Freedom Fighters Council. It is supposed to help freedom fighters and their family members self-reliant, though officials of the organization say that listing freedom fighters and keeping out false claimants is their main task.
Director of the council, Md Salimullah, said: “Our work involves recommendations for the inclusion and exclusion of names from gazettes.”
Minister for Liberation War Affairs, AKM Mozammel Huq, said: “A policy will be formulated for the council.”
“In an unethical manner, the son of a freedom fighter was omitted from work and on this accusation, a freedom fighter did not take state honours; if we had known, we could have taken a step,” said the minister.
All district administrators have been warned to ensure that freedom fighters are not neglected or made victims of unscrupulous demands, added the minister.