Ruling party MP demands ‘Child Freedom Fighter’ recognition for PM Tarique

A ruling party lawmaker on Wednesday called for the official recognition of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a child freedom fighter, while also urging the same honour for the premier’s late brother Arafat Rahman Koko.

BNP MP Mujibur Rahman from Gazipur-1 raised the demand during a parliamentary session.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, a Freedom Fighter who has the Bir Bikram gallantry award, was presiding over the session.

He said in the 1971 War of Liberation, Tarique Rahman, his late mother Begum Khaleda Zia, and late brother Arafat Rahman Koko were imprisoned by the Pakistanis.

“She (Begum Khaleda Zia) should also be recognised as a freedom fighter for her contribution to the war, and our Prime Minister, who was imprisoned for nine months, should be recognised as a child freedom fighter. And we demand that his brother be recognised as a child freedom fighter too,” the ruling party MP said.