The government is likely to propose increasing the monthly allowance for the freedom fighters (FF) to Tk 12,000 from Tk 10,000 in the next national budget, to be placed in parliament on Thursday. “The Liberation War Affairs Ministry has proposed to enhance the amount of the allocation to Taka 3,385 crore in the upcoming budget, which was Taka 3,305 crore in the current fiscal year,” an official of the ministry said Tuesday, reports BSS.
He said the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina introduced FF allowances as part of her determination to show honour and respect to them. To this end, the government is likely to increase allowances for FFs keeping other festival allowances unchanged in the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, according to the ministry information.
The government currently provides a monthly allowance of Tk 10,000 to each of the country’s 2,00,000 FFs for their contribution to the country’s War of Liberation in 1971. Besides, the freedom fighters are entitled to other financial benefits under the titles of Victory Day allowance, two Eid bonuses and Boishakhi (Bengali New Year) allowance and a 125-litre of water daily free of cost in the metropolitan areas under miscellaneous benefits.
In the next national budget, each FF will get Taka 12,000 as monthly honourarium, Taka 10,000 as each Eid bonus, Taka 2,000 as Baishakhi allowance. Apart from this, the government is also providing medical allowances for the injured freedom fighters and ration for the martyred families and disabled freedom fighters.
