Imam Hossain lost his job as well as the ability to continue his studies after losing his eyesight from bullet wounds sustained on August 5 during the mass uprising. But he is happy to have a new beginning for the nation and hopes the contribution that he and others like him have made will be recognised with due support.
"I am happy that even after losing my eyesight, we have got a new Bangladesh. But do not forget us," he said in his speech after receiving a cheque of Tk 100,000 from the Social Development Foundation (SDF), an autonomous organisation under the Financial Institutions Division, on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old is the son of Monowara Begum of New Islampur village in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. He is among 15 other severely injured children who received a cheque of Tk 100,000 each. Their mothers are members of the SDF's various self-reliance programmes.
The SDF organised the cheque distribution event at its office where the families of seven other dead victims, including Rangpur's Abu Sayeed, received Tk 200,000 each. Besides, 33 injured children received Tk 50,000 each.
Finance Advisor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed distributed the cheques as the chief guest with SDF Chairperson Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid in the chair. The SDF governing body members were also present.
Salehuddin said the amount received by the family members were very meagre in recognition of their children's contributions and expressed his satisfaction with loan waivers given to the SDF beneficiaries.
He also called upon the SDF to provide training for the victims' family members to make them self-reliant.
"The government recalls the contributions of all during the student-led movement and works to reflect their aspirations in building a new Bangladesh," the advisor said, adding that the SDF's initiative proved the recognition of the mass people's contributions in all corners of the country.
Mirajul Islam, cousin of Abu Sayeed, gave a speech on behalf of the latter's mother Monwara Begum.
The SDF has been working since 2001, covering 1.8 million families under different projects. Its aims include poverty alleviation, rural community development, women's development, and youth employment generation.
smunima@yahoo.com