FF’s allowance set to boost further
The government is likely to increase the monthly allowance of freedom fighters (FFs) in line with a proposal from the concerned Ministry.
Earlier, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs sent a proposal to the Ministry of Finance seeking Tk 500 crore additional allocations in the upcoming budget for
2019-20 fiscal to raise allowance of freedom fighters.
An anonymous Finance Ministry official told The New Nation yesterday that monthly allowance of war heroes would be raised by Tk 2,000 to Tk 12,000 from the next fiscal year would increase. Necessary allocation would be made in the upcoming budget for this purpose.
He said other benefits like two festival allowance, Victory Day allowance and Bangla New Year allowance will remain intact alongside hike in the monthly benefits.
The government spends Tk 400 crore for providing two Eid bonuses to the war heroes, Tk 40 crore for Pahela Boishakh and 65 crore for Victory Day allowance.
Presently, about 2.0 lakh freedom fighters enlisted under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs are receiving Tk 10,000 each as monthly allowances from government.
Finance Ministry officials said, the government has allocated Tk 3,800 crore in the current fiscal’s budget for providing monthly allowances to freedom fighters.
But, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has sought an enhanced allocation of Tk 4,280 crore for the next budget in view of rising allowances of freedom fighters.
Admitting the matter, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said that the ruling Awami League, which leads the Liberation War, is always sincere about the issues of freedom fighters and their welfare as well.
Earlier, the Awami League government raised the monthly allowance to Tk 10,000 from Tk 900. Freedom fighters have been receiving the amount from October 2017.
“Now, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has proposed to increase the allowance to Tk 12,000 to extend further support to the freedom fighters,” said AKM Mozammel Haque.
