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Finance Ministry Approves Tk638 Cr for July Uprising Victims
The Ministry of Finance has approved the release of Tk637.80 crore to support the families of those martyred during the July uprising and to ensure medical treatment for those injured in the protests. The disbursement process is set to begin on 10 January 2025, as confirmed by Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan.
“The entire amount will be granted as financial aid. However, due to logistical constraints, it will not be possible to release the full amount at once. A portion will be disbursed immediately, and the remainder will be allocated from next fiscal year's budget after June,” Khan explained.
The decision to allocate the funds was taken during an advisory council meeting in October. The council, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, had committed to providing Tk30 lakh to each martyr's family. However, there has been public dissatisfaction regarding the delay in fund disbursement, despite the initial commitment being made a month and a half ago.
In a letter to Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, and ICT Adviser Md Nahid Islam, expressed frustration over the delay and urged for the immediate release of the allocated funds. The letter, written on official Ministry of Power and Energy stationery, also highlighted the urgency of disbursing the funds to support the victims and their families.
According to the advisory council’s October meeting, a total of 826 individuals were martyred in the uprising, which necessitated an allocation of Tk247.80 crore to provide Tk30 lakh per family. Additionally, the advisers requested Tk290 crore for the treatment of 15,000 injured individuals, along with Tk100 crore for both domestic and international medical care.
On 21 December, the special cell on mass uprisings published an initial draft list of martyrs and injured individuals from the July-August protests. The first-phase list includes 858 martyrs and 11,551 injured individuals.
The Finance Ministry's approval is seen as a critical step in addressing the needs of those affected by the tragic events, with the government now set to expedite the aid process.