War veterans to get allowance

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday announced that the 1971 war veterans of different forces would get allowance from January next year.

"We've decided to provide allowance from January 2018 to those who fought for the country's independence from different forces, including the armed forces, police, Ansar-VDP and Border Guard Bangladesh [formerly known as East Pakistan Rifles]," she told a reception arranged marking the Armed Forces Day 2017.

The PM accorded the reception to gallantry award-recipient freedom fighters and their heirs at the Army Multipurpose Hall at Dhaka Cantonment.

Hasina said the members of the forces who had joined the Liberation War were not given allowance as they were in-service at that time. "All of them have gone into retirement by the time and their families are now in serious miseries ... we will start providing allowance to them from January next Insha Allah."

She mentioned that the demand is raised every year when she meets everybody on the Armed Forces Day. "So, we've decided to give it."

Pointing out that her government did whatever necessary for the valiant freedom fighters, the PM said, "Within our limited capacity, we're trying to recognise those who had participated in the Liberation War and those embraced martyrdom."

Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman delivered the welcome address at the function.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, PM's Security Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmad and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar and high civil and military officials were present.

At the reception, Hasina presented honorarium cheques and gifts, including mobile phone and tabs, to the heirs of seven Birshreshthos as well as other gallantry award recipients.

She also handed over "Shantikalin Padak" (peacetime medals) to 12 armed forces members and "Osamanya Seba Padak" (outstanding service medals) to 14 armed forces officers in recognition of their heroic role during the war and peacetime.

Hasina said today each and every force and institution of the country are enjoying the benefits of development, and the Bangalee nation is now established as a dignified nation in the global arena.

"We've attained the capacity and strength to face any challenge and we'll have to maintain its continuity," she said, adding that the Bangalee nation is a victorious nation and it will not bow down to anyone.

Mentioning that the country got the hard-earned independence through the blood of millions of martyrs, she said, "This country cannot lag behind, this blood cannot go in vain and we won't let it happen. Bangladesh will be built in the light of the spirit of the Liberation War and we'll build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation."

Turning to the inclusion of Bangabandhu's historic 7 March Speech in the "World Documentary Heritage" by the Unesco, the PM said history cannot be erased. "This has been proved now." 

Describing the Liberation War as the greatest episode in Bangladesh history, Hasina said the country has got the identity of an independent and sovereign state on the world map with this war. "The freedom fighters presented us an independent and sovereign country with their supreme sacrifice."

Spelling out her government's various steps for the welfare of the freedom fighters, the PM said their monthly honorarium has been increased to Tk 10,000 from Tk 900, while the number of allowance recipients has been raised to two lakh from one lakh.

She said the monthly allowance for Birshreshthos has been increased to Tk 30,000, for Biruttam to Tk 25,000, for Birbikram to Tk 20,000 and Birpratik to Tk 15,000.

Hasina said the monthly state honorarium for the war-wounded freedom fighters and the families of martyred freedom fighters has been enhanced to the highest Tk 45,000 and the lowest Tk 25,000.

The PM said, "It's our national responsibility to keep alive the invaluable contributions of the valiant freedom fighters towards achieving independence."