Interim govt launches financial support for July uprising victims

The interim government today officially began providing financial assistance to the families of the victims who were killed and injured in the July mass uprising.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the programme today at his office in Tejgaon, distributing cheques to families of seven injured persons and 21 victims, who were killed during the uprising.

During the event, three martyr families and three injured individuals spoke, demanding justice for the killings, official recognition, financial support, and rehabilitation.

They broke down in tears while recalling their experiences from July.

Addressing the programme, Yunus said, "I always think about those whose sacrifices have given us the courage to call this country a new Bangladesh—their sacrifices cannot be measured by any scale."

Terming to the victims as "the creators of history," he added, "You are living history. A nation that can't remember its past can't build its future. This recognition is the nation's gratitude to you."

Each family of those killed during the uprising will receive a one-time financial grant of Tk 3 million—Tk 1 million through national savings certificates in the 2024-25 fiscal year and Tk 2 million in July 2025-26. They will also receive a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000, while employable family members will be given priority in government and semi-government jobs.

Injured individuals will be categorised into two medical groups:

Category A (Severely Injured Fighters): A one-time grant of Tk 5 lakh, with Tk 2 lakh in 2024-25 and Tk 3 lakh in 2025-26. They will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000 and lifetime medical treatment at government hospitals, including treatment abroad based on medical board recommendations.

Category B (Moderately Injured Fighters): A one-time grant of Tk 3 lakh, with Tk 1 lakh in 2024-25 and Tk 2 lakh in 2025-26. They will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 15,000.

The chief adviser assured that all killings and enforced disappearances would be brought to justice but stressed that the process must be fair. He also urged the families to remain vigilant against further violence or bloodshed.

Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Faruq-e-Azam briefed the attendees on the government's initiatives, saying that those who sacrificed their lives during the uprising would be officially recognised as "July Martyrs" and the injured as "July Fighters".

All July fighters will receive identity cards granting access to various government facilities.

So far, the government has published a gazette listing 834 people killed in the July uprising. A list of injured individuals has also been prepared and will soon be officially released.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam, and the chief adviser's special assistant Dr Md Sayedur Rahman were among those present, according to a press release from the chief adviser's press wing.