The interim government has begun providing financial assistance to the families of those killed and injured in the July uprising.
Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus officially launched the program on Monday at 10:30 AM at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon by handing over financial cheques to 21 martyr families and seven injured individuals.
Advisers Faruk E Azam (Liberation War Affairs), Nurjahan Begum (Health), Nahid Islam (Information and Broadcasting), and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman attended the meeting.
During the meeting, three martyr family members and three injured individuals shared their experiences and demands for justice, state recognition, financial aid, and rehabilitation.
Chief Adviser said that the sacrifices made by the martyrs and injured fighters cannot be measured. Calling them the creators of history, he expressed deep gratitude and emphasized that a nation must remember its history to grow.
He assured the victims' families that they are now officially part of the government’s support system and called on society to take responsibility for them.
He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to justice, saying that all killings and disappearances will be investigated properly.
CA at this time warned against hasty trials, stressing that justice must be fair and not lead to further injustice.
He urged all citizens to unite in building a peaceful and prosperous nation, ensuring that criminals are punished while misguided individuals are guided towards the right path.
The government has decided to officially recognize the victims as "July Martyrs" and the injured as "July Warriors." They will receive identity cards, granting them access to various benefits.
Each martyr's family will receive a one-time financial grant of BDT 30 lakh, with BDT 10 lakh provided in the 2024-25 fiscal year and BDT 20 lakh in the 2025-26 fiscal year through national savings certificates. Additionally, martyr families will receive a monthly allowance of BDT 20,000, and their employable members will be given priority in government and semi-government jobs.
Injured individuals will receive benefits under two medical categories.
Under Category A, severely injured individuals will receive a one-time grant of BDT 5 lakh, with BDT 2 lakh provided in 2024-25 and BDT 3 lakh in 2025-26. They will also receive a monthly allowance of BDT 20,000 and lifelong medical treatment at government hospitals. They will be eligible for local and foreign medical treatment as per recommendations from the medical board, along with necessary rehabilitation and skill training.
Under Category B, injured individuals will receive a one-time grant of BDT 3 lakh, with BDT 1 lakh provided in 2024-25 and BDT 2 lakh in 2025-26. They will receive a monthly allowance of BDT 15,000 and be given priority for government and semi-government employment.
The government has so far officially listed 834 martyrs of the July uprising in a gazette, while the list of injured individuals has been prepared and will soon be published.
Adviser Nahid Islam acknowledged the victims' long wait for institutional recognition and apologized for the delay, explaining that the government took charge during a crisis period but remained committed to ensuring justice and proper honor for the victims.
BDST: 1544 HRS, FEB 10, 2025
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