Chief Advisor Prof. Yunus launches major financial aid for families of July Martyrs and injured

The interim government has taken a significant step by providing financial aid to the families of those who were killed or injured during the July uprising. 

In a special ceremony at the Chief Advisor’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor, handed over financial assistance checks to 21 families of the martyrs and 7 injured individuals.

The event took place on Monday, February 10, at 10:30 AM. 

Present alongside Prof. Yunus were several high-ranking government officials, including Faruq E Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Health Advisor Noorjahan Begum, Information and Broadcasting Advisor Nahid Islam, and special assistant Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman.

At the ceremony, some family members of the martyrs and injured fighters took the stage to share their emotional stories. 

They recounted the trauma and struggle they went through during the July uprising, often breaking into tears as they called for justice and government support. 

They also voiced their wishes for state honors and better rehabilitation.

In his speech, Chief Advisor Prof. Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by the martyrs and fighters.

 He said, "I always think about those whose sacrifices gave us the courage to call this country a new Bangladesh; their sacrifice cannot be measured." 

He described them as living history, adding, "This recognition is the nation’s gratitude to you."

Prof. Yunus also assured the families and survivors that the government is committed to ensuring justice. He emphasized that rushing into judgments could lead to further injustice, and the right processes must be followed. 

"We will not turn to injustice. We will hand over criminals to the police and the law. Those who are not criminals, those who don‍‍`t need to be handed to the police, we will reform them," he said, calling for unity in rebuilding the country.

He further added, 

"Together, we will turn this country into a beautiful one as fast as possible... we must bring the criminals to justice. Those who are not criminals, we must bring them to the right path."

Advisor Nahid Islam also addressed the gathering and acknowledged that the families had been waiting for these institutional efforts for a long time. 

"We understand that you had hoped for these institutional efforts much earlier. We were not lacking in sincerity," he explained. 

Nahid Islam also apologized for not meeting their expectations sooner due to the crisis period.

During the event, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs also outlined the various programs set up for the families and the injured. 

From now on, those martyred during the uprising will be recognized as "July Martyrs," and those who were injured will be referred to as "July Fighters." 

Both groups will receive identification cards as part of the recognition process.

According to the government‍‍`s financial assistance program, each martyr‍‍`s family will receive a one-time payment of 30 lakh BDT. 

Out of this, 10 lakh BDT will be given through National Savings Certificates in the fiscal year 2024-2025, while the remaining 20 lakh BDT will be provided in July 2025-2026. 

In addition to this, each family will receive a monthly stipend of 20,000 BDT, and members who are eligible for employment will be given priority for government and semi-government jobs.

The injured July fighters will receive assistance based on their medical needs, categorized into two groups: Category A and Category B.

Fighters in Category A will receive a one-time payment of 5 lakh BDT, distributed in phases across the fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

They will also receive a monthly stipend of 20,000 BDT and have access to lifetime medical care at government hospitals. 

Fighters who need specialized treatment may receive help locally or internationally, based on medical board recommendations. 

Additionally, they will receive training for job placements and rehabilitation support.

For fighters in Category B, a one-time payment of 3 lakh BDT will be provided, along with a monthly stipend of 15,000 BDT. 

They too will receive training for employment opportunities and will have job preferences in government and semi-government sectors.

So far, the government has released a gazette recognizing 834 martyrs from the July uprising, and a similar list for the injured is soon to follow.

This new program represents the government‍‍`s effort to properly acknowledge and support those who sacrificed so much during the uprising.

With these steps, the interim government hopes to ensure both justice and financial security for the families who endured great losses during this critical time in the country’s history.