The government has increased the monthly honourarium and various financial grants for freedom fighters, families of martyred freedom fighters, and war-wounded veterans.
According to a recent notification issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (Budget Branch), the new rates include increases in monthly honourariums, festival allowances, medical allowances, and special grants for Victory Day and Bengali New Year.
These revised benefits are set to take effect from 1 July.
The decision was taken in accordance with Section 3 of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust Act, 2018, and relevant regulations framed by the Ministry. The government stated that the hike aims to ensure the welfare of veterans while further strengthening their dignity and social security.
New allowance structure
Under the new notification, freedom fighters holding Bir Uttam title will receive a monthly honourarium of Tk30,000. Additionally, they will be provided with Tk10,000 as a festival allowance, Tk5,000 for Victory Day, and Tk2,000 as a Bengali New Year allowance.
Recipients of Bir Bikram and Bir Protik titles will now receive a monthly honourarium of Tk25,000. Their other benefits, Tk10,000 for festivals, Tk5,000 for Victory Day, and Tk2,000 for Bengali New Year, remain consistent with the other titled categories.
For the families of martyred freedom fighters, the basic monthly honourarium has been set at Tk23,000. They will also receive a medical allowance of Tk2,000, a food allowance of Tk5,000, a festival allowance of Tk23,000, and a Bengali New Year allowance of Tk2,000.
War-wounded veterans
The monthly honourarium for war-wounded Bir Muktijoddhas has been determined based on four categories of disability:
• Category A (96 to 100 per cent disability): Tk 30,000 per month.
• Category B (61 to 95 per cent disability): Tk 28,000 per month.
• Category C (20 to 60 per cent disability): Tk 23,000 per month.
• Category D (1 to 19 per cent disability): Tk 20,000 per month.
The notification, signed by Md Asaduzzaman, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, noted that the government is continuously implementing various welfare programmes to protect the financial security and social status of the heroic sons of the soil and their families.
This latest increase is part of those ongoing efforts and is expected to significantly improve the quality of life for veterans and their dependents.
