Speaking at a press conference at the ministry's conference room following an exchange meeting on strategies for compiling authentic lists of martyrs, freedom fighters, and Birangonas (heroic women), Minister Ahmed Azam Khan affirmed that verification will transcend political affiliations. Addressing long-standing controversies surrounding non-freedom fighters infiltrating official lists—including claims of roughly 85,000 non-eligible individuals—the Minister stated that preserving historical integrity is a national obligation. He disclosed that a gazette notification has been published barring any new applications for freedom fighter status after October 7, 2026, noting that new applications 55 years after independence are unjustified. Existing pending applications and current listings will undergo meticulous scrutiny, ensuring genuine freedom fighters who were omitted are included while non-freedom fighters are stripped of official recognition.