The 'July Shaheed Smriti Foundation' is starting work to provide financial assistance to the families of martyrs in the mass uprising of students and the public in the July Revolution. Under the new program called 'Bangladesh next to the martyrs', each martyr family will initially be given Taka five lakh. And the injured will be given Taka one lakh. From tomorrow, Saturday (November 2), the organization will provide assistance to 200 families every week.
Member Secretary Sarjis Alam gave this information at a press conference organized at the foundation's office in Shahbagh in the capital at 11 am on Friday (November 1).
Sarjis Alam said that this money will be first handed over to the families of martyrs of Dhaka division at the auditorium of the Nagar Bhaban of Dhaka South City Corporation tomorrow, Saturday. Not all martyr families of Dhaka will come tomorrow. Those who will be given financial assistance tomorrow have been contacted. Assistance will also be provided to others in phases every week.
He said, the list of freedom fighters of 1971 has been questioned in various ways. We are verifying so that there are no questions about the student-public uprising in 2024. A team of nine people is working on verification. The list of more than 800 martyrs has already been finalized. There are more than 24,000 injured and more than 1,600 martyrs. The final list will be finalized by November after verifying the information. It is hoped that assistance will reach all families by December.
The member secretary said, we will provide assistance to 200 families tomorrow. Money will be given in four installments from morning to afternoon. Financial assistance will be given to 50 families in each installment. So that no one has to come and sit until afternoon. A team of 20 people is ready for this.
He said, we are working with Dhaka division first. The number of martyrs in Dhaka is more than 200. After giving them, financial assistance will be provided to eight divisions.
The injured are being provided financial assistance of one lakh each. However, according to the medical team, 50 thousand taka is also being given to many. We are providing assistance to the injured through bKash. If the amount is more, it is being provided through bank accounts. However, if anyone needs urgent assistance, they can contact Helpline 16000 and assistance will be provided within three days, he said.
Stating that there is a plan for the rehabilitation process after this assistance, he said, "After that, we intend to work on the rehabilitation process. It is also being considered whether those who will never be able to return to work can be given any honorarium for a long time."