Budget proposes Tk 5,000 raise for families of gallantry award-winning freedom fighters

The government has proposed increasing the monthly state honorarium for families of gallantry award-winning freedom fighters by Tk 5,000 in the next fiscal year.

Under the proposal, families of Bir Sreshthos will receive Tk 40,000 a month. Families of Bir Uttams will get Tk 30,000, while Bir Bikram and Bir Protik families will receive Tk 25,000 each.

The monthly allowance for general freedom fighters will remain unchanged at Tk 20,000.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed the proposal during his budget speech in the parliament today.

He said existing benefits for freedom fighters, including festival allowances, Bangla New Year allowances, medical support and burial grants, would continue.

He also said allowances are being disbursed directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through a government-to-person payment system, based on an integrated database of freedom fighters.

State honorariums for war-wounded freedom fighters and families of martyred and gallantry award recipients are currently being paid through electronic fund transfer, the minister added.

The budget also proposes continued loan support for freedom fighters through the Bangladesh Rural Development Board for socioeconomic assistance, alongside plans to construct 4,730 “Bir Nibas” housing units in FY 2026-27.

Overall allocation for the sector has increased by Tk 63 crore compared with the revised budget of Tk 7,452 crore in FY 2025-26.

Separately, the government has proposed continuing monthly allowances for families of those killed and injured in the July Mass Uprising, with beneficiaries set to rise by 1,857 to 16,513.

Families of the deceased currently receive Tk 20,000 a month, while injured individuals receive between Tk 10,000 and Tk 20,000 depending on category.

A Tk 300 crore housing allocation has also been proposed for families of the dead and those unable to work due to injuries from the July Uprising.