FFs to get 2 festival bonuses
The proposed budget brings some good news for war heroes.
The government will construct 10,000 flats across the country to provide accommodation facilities for insolvent freedom fighters, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said.
Freedom fighters will also get two festival allowances of Tk 10,000 each in addition to their monthly honorarium.
Around 2.12 lakh freedom fighters will enjoy this facility.
Hailing the decision, Habibur Rahman, a freedom fighter from Satkhira, said the government has taken good initiatives for the war heroes. He, however, said government should remain careful so that only genuine freedom fighters enjoy theses facilities.
According to the proposed budget, the government will also set up a research centre with the objective of identifying massacre sites, torture cells, killing grounds and mass graves of 1971 and building their database in a bid to facilitate the new generations to learn the true history of the liberation war.
The government also promised to continue its efforts to uphold the spirit of the war of liberation, preserve its historical records and memorials, spread the spirit of liberation war among young generations and undertake welfare measures for the freedom fighters, their children and posterity.
The Tax free income limit for war-wounded freedom fighters, which now stands at Tk 4.25 lakh, will remain unchanged.
Freedom fighters will also get tax exemption facility for their welfare allowances received from government or any honorarium received from the freedom fighters welfare trust.
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.
Earlier this, in September last year, the government had decided to more than double the monthly allowances for injured freedom fighters and those recognised for valour.
Some 669 title-awarded freedom fighters and around 12,500 injured freedom fighters are at present enjoying these benefits. Out of 669 awarded seven hold the title of Bir Shreshtha, 68 Bir Uttam, 175 Bir Bikram and 426 hold the title of Bir Pratik.
At present, freedom fighters, their children and grandchildren enjoy 30 percent quota in government jobs. In addition, freedom fighters' children and grandchildren also get special quotas in public schools, colleges and universities.
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