Families of 200 uprising martyrs get financial aid

The July Shaheed Smrity Foundation (JSSF) on Saturday handed over cheques to the family members of around 200 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during mass uprising that ousted the Awami League-led government.
Each of the martyrs' families got Tk 0.5 million at a programme held in the auditorium of Dhaka South City Corporation headquarters in Gulistan area.
With this, the foundation launched the financial assistance programme with a slogan "Bangladesh beside the martyrs' families'.
The JSSF will provide financial assistance to 200 families every week in all divisions.

The families of 200 martyrs, who died in Dhaka division, were called by the foundation to collect the cheques on Saturday.
They were given the cheques in four sessions moderated by JSSF general secretary Sarjis Alam.
Following the verification of the required documents, the main function began at 12.30pm with the observance of one-minute silence in memory of the victims.
Social Welfare Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid attended the first session to hand over the cheques.
Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Information Adviser Nahid Islam and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud were present in other sessions to hand over the cheques.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Murshid said if such a support programme could have been launched immediately after the liberation war, bona fide freedom fighters would not be deprived of the support.
Addressing the function, Sarjis Alam said in addition to the financial support, the foundation would take initiative to provide the victims with employment opportunities.
Family members of the martyrs were seen coming to the Nagar Bhaban premises with gloomy faces.
Talking to the FE, Rehana Begum, mother of a martyr Imon Mia, said her son died in Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 3. He was 17 years' old.
"Imon was brutally attacked during a clash in Vatara area on July 19," she said.
The JSSF was formally launched in September with Tk 1.0 billion in donations received from the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund aiming to honour martyrs and support their families through financial assistance and community programmes.
So far, the identities of more than 1,600 martyrs and 24,000 injured persons have been listed in the July-August student uprising. The list is being verified again and again.
The financial assistance will be extended to all divisions. Each of the injured people will receive upto Tk 0.1 million. The victims or their family members are advised that the foundation would contact them through the helpline number 16000.
The foundation office is located near Hotel Intercontinental in Shahbagh in the capital.
The family members of martyrs or the injured persons can go there for any urgent need or contact the helpline number.
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