They did not fight for the country's liberation. Yet they obtained freedom fighter's certificates at the fag-end of their careers to secure job extension by one year. But in the end the “dream” did not materialise; they instead earned a name one had better not earn: fake freedom fighter. Two secretaries, whose war hero's certificates were found fake and was already revoked, tendered their resignat
ions yesterday. In the resignation letters submitted to the public administration ministry, however, they cited personal reasons. The two are MM Neaz Uddin Miah, who was health secretary, and AKM Amir Hossain, who was public service commission secretary. Sources said they were asked to resign by the higher authorities. The government also is taking initiatives to send Abul Kashem, a joint secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry (now an OSD), on voluntary retirement for fraudulently obtaining war hero's certificates. KH Masud Siddiqui, former secretary of the same ministry, resigned on October 31, after his freedom fighter's certificate was also found to be fake. Advertisement Neaz, Amir and Masud won't have to face departmental actions, as they have resigned. Under the rules, if any government official goes on voluntary retirement or resigns, there is no provision for withdrawing their resignation letters and that those must be accepted. The Liberation War Affair Ministry earlier revoked their certificates that they had collected last year. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, senior secretary of the public administration ministry, told this correspondent that the two secretaries' resignation letters were being processed and that Abul Kashem Talukder would face action as per rules. Asked about departmental action, Naser said it was not applicable to those who already retired. The four bureaucrats, however, didn't take any benefit using their certificates as they didn't get job extensions. In his resignation letter, Neaz Uddin said he wished to go on voluntary retirement due to his “physical and mental” condition. He joined the service on 19 June, 1983, and his retirement date was December 31 this year. Contacted, he said, “I have made the decision on personal grounds.” Amir Hossain tendered his resignation only hours after Neaz did. He, too, cited personal reasons. Talking to The Daily Star, he said he served the government for 30 years and thought it was time to go. But he would not comment on whether his resignation had any link with the war hero's certificate that he had obtained through forgery. On October 13, the public administration ministry served show cause notices to the four asking why departmental action would not be taken against them for their alleged cheating. They responded to the letters on October 27, still claiming that they were indeed war heroes. Later, the Anti-Corruption Commission found they unfairly obtained the certificates, bypassing relevant laws. The probe also found former state minister for Liberation War Affairs AB Tajul Islam used his unilateral power to illegally issue the certificates. The ministry revoked their certificates on September 22. The anti-graft body recommended that the government take action for their misconduct. According to the ACC report, during the 1971 war Niaz Uddin was 15 years old, Masud Siddiqui 15, Amir Hossain 14, and Abul Kashem just about 12. In November 2012, the Awami League-led government extended the retirement age of freedom fighters from 59 years to 60. Earlier in April 2010, their retirement age was extended by two years from 57. After the decision, many public servants took freedom fighter's certificates through illegal means to extend their service tenure. The government has revoked war hero's certificates of 182 government officials so far this year, as they obtained those through cheating. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday demanded exemplary punishment to the government officials who faked the certificates.
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