Each year the government of India awards scholarship to descendants of Muktijoddhas to commemorate their invaluable contribution towards the Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.
This year 2,000 students (1,000 students from each HSC and UG level) have been selected for scholarship under the scheme. The Ministry of Liberation of War Affairs is helping the Indian High Commission in Dhaka in identifying the students from all corners of Bangladesh. The scholarship amount will be credited directly to the bank account of the student by the method of Direct Bank Transfer (DBT). The State Bank of India, Gulshan branch has already started transferring the amount.
“Bangladesh and India have a unique historical legacy. Our relationship is deeply rooted in a shared culture, heritage, history and geography. India attaches the highest importance to its friendship with Bangladesh and is committed to work to support the national efforts of Bangladesh for the betterment of their own people.”
The award of these scholarships, even during the Covid-19 Pandemic, is in furtherance to the visit of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.
“It exemplifies the abiding commitment of the government and people of India towards friendship with their brethren in Bangladesh.”
The ‘Muktijoddha scholarship scheme’ was started by government of India in the year 2006 for the descendents of Muktijoddhas.
Originally, Scholarships were awarded to Higher Secondary and Undergraduate level students.
Undergraduate students were awarded Tk 24,000/- per year for four years and Higher secondary students were awarded Tk 10,000/- per year for two years. The new scheme launched during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in April 2017, was to benefit 10,000 students from Bangladesh over a period of five years.
An amount of Tk20,000 is to be given to Higher Secondary and Tk50,000 to Undergraduate category students, who are direct descendants of Muktijoddhas, under the new scheme.
The government of India has sanctioned an amount of Tk35 crore for both schemes combined together.
As of now, 17,082 students have benefited under this scheme, and an amount of Tk 37.99 crore has been utilised for this purpose.
