Summary:
- The Bangladeshi government will provide savings certificates instead of direct allowances to families of 834 victims and over 12,000 injured from the July 2024 uprising.
- Families of deceased individuals will receive Tk 30 lakh each in savings certificates, while injured individuals will be compensated based on injury severity, with allocations ranging from Tk 50,000 to Tk 2 lakh.
- Monthly profits from the savings certificates will begin disbursement in February 2025, with additional funds allocated for medical assistance and future installments.
- Special exemptions, such as tax return waivers and age restrictions, have been introduced to ensure accessibility for victims’ families.
The government of Bangladesh has announced a comprehensive compensation plan for the families of those killed and injured during the July 2024 mass uprising, which led to significant political changes in the country. Instead of direct monthly allowances, the government will provide savings certificates (locally known as Sanchayapatra) to ensure long-term financial security for the victims’ families.
According to official reports, families of the 834 individuals who lost their lives in the uprising will each receive savings certificates worth Tk 30 lakh, while injured individuals will be compensated based on the severity of their injuries. The injured have been categorized into four groups: “A” category individuals will receive Tk 2 lakh each, “B” and “C” categories will receive Tk 1 lakh each, and “D” category individuals will receive Tk 50,000. The total allocation for this initiative is Tk 637.8 crore, with Tk 232.6 crore already approved for immediate disbursement in January 2025.
The savings certificates will generate monthly profits, which will serve as financial support for the victims’ families. The first installment of these certificates is set to be issued this month, with profits becoming accessible from February. The remaining certificates are expected to be distributed in the next fiscal year starting July 2025. Additionally, Tk 25 crore has been allocated for medical assistance to injured individuals, both domestically and abroad.
This move comes under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which took power following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 amid widespread protests. The uprising, initially triggered by demands for reforms in public sector job quotas, escalated into a nationwide movement against Hasina’s administration. The protests resulted in over 1,000 deaths, more than 20,000 injuries, and significant political upheaval.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has emphasized that these savings certificates are non-transferable and cannot be sold by recipients. However, provisions are being considered for those unwilling to accept profits from the certificates. For such cases, alternative arrangements, including cash payments, are under discussion.
The government has also taken steps to facilitate access to these benefits. Families of victims are exempted from certain requirements such as tax return submissions and age restrictions typically associated with purchasing savings certificates. Furthermore, a gazette has been issued listing the names of those eligible for compensation.
In addition to financial support through savings certificates, the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation has been established to provide further assistance to victims’ families. This foundation aims to preserve the memory of those who died during the uprising while offering supplementary aid.
The interim government’s approach reflects its commitment to addressing grievances from one of Bangladesh’s most tumultuous periods in recent history. By ensuring long-term financial stability through savings instruments and medical support for survivors, it aims to provide justice and relief while fostering national healing after months of unrest.
Source: Ittefaq
