Eid bonuses for war heroes

The celebration of Eid will be more joyous for the freedom fighters as the government has decided to give them Eid bonuses.

Around 2.12 lakh freedom fighters will get two annual bonuses which are equal to their monthly allowances.

The decision came at a meeting between the finance and the liberation war affairs ministries with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair at his ministry yesterday.

"We have decided to give the freedom fighters two Eid bonuses, equal to their monthly allowances. It was their long-standing demand and it is being met today [Sunday]. Besides, there was a directive from the prime minister in this regard," Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq told The Daily Star.

He said the war heroes would get the bonuses of the last year as well.

The minister added that they sought Tk 400 crore from the finance ministry, and the finance minister agreed.

"The finance ministry would soon issue a circular in this regard," said Mozammel.              

In September last year, the government had decided to more than double the monthly allowances for injured freedom fighters and those recognised for valour, and the decision has become effective from January this year.

Some 669 awarded freedom fighters as well as the families of seven Bir Shreshthas and around 12,500 injured freedom fighters are getting the benefit.

In July 2015, the government increased the allowance of freedom fighters to Tk 8,000 from Tk 5,000. It was increased to Tk 10,000 from Tk 8,000 in January last year.

There are some 2.12 lakh freedom fighters already listed. The number was 1.98 lakh in the 2002 gazette published during the BNP-Jamaat government. Besides, 1.02 lakh applications for freedom fighters' certificates are pending approval.

The number of awarded freedom fighters is 676 in four categories. Of them, seven is Bir Shreshtha, while 68 is Bir Uttam, 175 is Bir Bikram and 426 is Bir Pratik.

At present, freedom fighters, their children and grandchildren enjoy 30 percent quota in government jobs. In addition, freedom fighters' children and grandchildren get special quotas in public schools, colleges and universities.