Demand to declare Tarique Rahman, Arafat Rahman as 'child freedom fighters'

Mujibur Rahman, a member of parliament from Gazipur-1 constituency, has demanded that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his late brother Arafat Rahman Koko be given state recognition as 'Child Freedom Fighters' in the National Parliament.

He raised this demand while participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President's address on the 11th day of the 13th National Parliament session on Wednesday (April 8).

Mujibur Rahman said that during the Liberation War in 1971, Khaleda Zia was imprisoned by Pakistani forces along with her two children for nine long months. During that time, the members of the Zia family showed infinite patience and patriotism, which is rare in history.

He said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko spent that difficult period of their lives in captivity with their mother. This is not a political statement, but a historical reality.

At the same time, he also reiterated his demand to recognize Begum Khaleda Zia as a full-fledged freedom fighter. He also demanded that Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko be given state honors as child freedom fighters.

The BNP MP also said that if every sacrifice and contribution in the country's history is properly evaluated, it is possible to build a society without discrimination.

Reminiscing about the late Arafat Rahman Koko, he said that his life was spent through various adversities and painful events. Starting from being a prisoner of war in childhood to being a victim of political situations later on, his life was full of struggle.