The caretaker government has proposed a Tk 405.20 crore allocation in the national budget for FY2025-26 to support families of July Uprising martyrs and injured victims, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced while presenting the Tk7.90 lakh crore budget on Thursday. This marks Ahmed’s first budget presentation since serving as Bangladesh Bank governor nearly 15 years ago.
The substantial Tk405.2 crore allocation serves multiple purposes – commemorating the historic movement’s legacy, providing rehabilitation for wounded students and civilians, and institutionalising the July Uprising’s ideals in national consciousness.
Ahmed revealed that the newly-formed Department of July uprising is already working to transform Gonobhaban into a permanent July Uprising Memorial Museum, while policy guidelines for systematic allowance distribution to affected families are being finalised alongside medical care initiatives for survivors.
Presenting what he described as a “realistic” budget, the finance adviser emphasised how the restrained budget size reflects current economic realities, with particular focus on reducing fiscal deficits. The Tk7.90 lakh crore budget attempts to balance fiscal discipline with targeted relief measures for low-income groups during ongoing political instability.
The announcement comes as the interim administration seeks to address both immediate economic stabilisation and long-term historical justice commitments, with concrete steps being taken through the memorial museum project and structured support systems for July uprising victims and their families.