Bashundhara Group, the country’s largest business conglomerate, handed over a cheque of Tk1 crore on Wednesday (January 29), as promised, to the families of five journalists martyred during the July uprising.
The cheque handover ceremony took place at 3:00pm in the conference room of East West Media Group premises.
On 9 January, during the 15th founding anniversary celebration of Kaler Kantho, the families of the five martyred journalists were honoured with commemorative plaques and given a cheque of Tk2 lakhs each.
At the event, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan pledged a total of Tk1 crore aid for the families.
Ahmed Akbar Sobhan also ordered that the amount be placed in fixed deposits under each family's name so that the monthly interest earnings could support their living expenses. As per his instructions, each family would get Tk20 lakh.
The martyred journalists are Hasan Mehedi of the Dhaka Times, Shakil Hossain of the Bhorer Awaz, Abu Taher Muhammad Turab of the Naya Diganta, Tahir Zaman Priyo of the Report.live and Pradip Kumar Bhowmik of the Khaborpatra.
At the cheque handover ceremony, present were: Kaler Kantho Editor Hasan Hafiz, Kaler Kantho Executive Editor Haider Ali, East West Media Group’s Deputy Managing Director Kader Gani Chowdhury, and the Group’s Executive Director Md Pavel alongside officials from the Bashundhara Group and family members of the five martyred journalists.
During the anti-discrimination student movement, journalist Hasan Mehedi was shot and killed on 18 July in Jatrabari, Dhaka, while on professional duty.
On 19 July, during clashes on Central Road in Dhanmondi, former video journalist Tahir Zaman Priyo was martyred.
Journalist Shakil was martyred while capturing video and photos in Azampur, Uttara.
On the same day, journalist Abu Taher, Sylhet bureau chief of Dainik Naya Diganta, was shot dead by police at Court Point in Sylhet city.
On 4 August, Pradip Kumar Bhowmik, Joint General Secretary of Raiganj Press Club and journalist of Dainik Khabarpatra, lost his life in Sirajganj.
BDST: 1832 HRS, JAN 29, 2025
MSK/SMS
