Yunus Government Cancels Martyr Freedom Fighters’ Grave Project

Staff Correspondent

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus faces criticism from the families of martyrs and freedom fighter organizations after canceling the national project to build graves for martyr freedom fighters. The decision has been labeled as “anti-Liberation War” and a “betrayal of the nation.”

Initiated in 2018 under the Awami League government, the project aimed to construct graves for 20,000 martyr freedom fighters, with a budget of Tk. 396 crore. Despite minimal progress—completing less than a quarter of the project in six years—the government has abruptly canceled it.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs cited land scarcity, difficulty identifying graves, and financial constraints as reasons for the cancellation, proposing “memorial cemeteries” as an alternative. However, freedom fighter organizations have rejected these explanations.

Freedom fighter Lutfor Rahman stated, “This government wants to erase the history of freedom fighters. Their actions show no respect for those who sacrificed their lives for the country.” Similarly, Abdul Matin remarked, “Without the graves, how will the new generation remember the martyrs? This is a deliberate anti-Liberation War conspiracy.”

The project had completed 4,126 graves out of an initial target of 5,000. No work has begun on the remaining 15,000 graves listed by Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), many of whom were reportedly unaware of the project. Challenges such as lack of land, design flaws, budget shortfalls, and families’ dissent were cited, but freedom fighters attribute the failure to a lack of commitment.

Freedom fighter organizations have threatened nationwide protests if the decision is not reversed. “If there is no space for those who gave their lives for the country, what does that say about our nation’s identity?” they asked.