Gallant freedom fighters to get festival, Victory Day allowances
Family members of freedom fighters martyred in the Liberation War and those freedom fighters who were wounded in 1971 and received gallantry awards will get festival and Victory Day allowances.
The cabinet yesterday approved the Liberation War ministry's proposal to provide two festival allowances (Tk 10,000 each) and a Victory Day allowance (Tk 5,000) to gallantry award recipients.
It also approved the proposal of giving Tk 2,000 as Pahela Baishakh allowance to wounded freedom fighters, gallantry award recipients, and the families of martyred freedom fighters.
"They [martyrs' families, wounded and gallantry award-holding freedom fighters] are not getting the three allowances which general freedom fighters have been getting," said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting virtually from the Gono Bhaban.
In its proposal, the Liberation War ministry said a total of 5,222 wounded freedom fighters under four categories are getting Tk 25,000 to Tk 45,000 monthly. Family members of 952 deceased freedom fighters who were wounded in 1971 are getting Tk 25,000 per month.
Family members of 5,816 martyred freedom fighters are getting two festival allowances (Tk 10,000 each).
The wounded freedom fighters and family members of martyrs were not getting the Pahela Baishakh allowance. Wounded freedom fighters were also not getting the Victory Day allowance.
Families of the seven Bir Sreshthas are getting Tk 35,000 per month, 68 Bir Uttam Tk 25,000, 175 Bir Bikram Tk 20,000 and 426 Bir Protik Tk 15,000.
But the gallantry award-holding freedom fighters are currently not getting festival and Pahela Baishakh allowances. Gallantry award recipients who are alive today also do not get Victory Day allowance, the ministry said in its proposal.
There were five agendas in yesterday's cabinet meeting.
Other than those, the price of daily essentials and Covid-19 vaccination issues were discussed.
Cabinet Secretary Anwarul said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, who was present at the meeting, assured the cabinet of being fully prepared for Ramadan.
The cabinet secretary said that the commerce ministry has proposed vat exemption on oil imports as the oil price is high in the international market.
"They will ensure the reflection of exemption in the retail price [if proposal is approved]," he said.
OFFICE HOURS RESCHEDULED
The government has rescheduled office timings for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan to a 9:00am-3:30pm workday for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions.
The decision was made at the cabinet meeting.
"During Ramadan, 9:00am to 3:30pm was fixed as the office timing from Sunday to Thursday. There will be a 15-minute break from 1:15pm to 1:30pm for Zuhr prayers," said Anwarul.
He said other institutions like Bangladesh Railway, the agencies involved in emergency services like fire services, hospitals, state-owned industries and factories, other companies and the Supreme Court will reschedule their own office timings for Ramadan following their own rules and considering public interest.
Replying to a question, he said the banks will follow directives of the central bank.
The cabinet also approved the draft Chattogram Port Authority Act 2021, keeping the provision of one-year imprisonment and Tk 5 lakh fine for pollution.
"Often, hazardous substances are stored. Sometimes ships release excessive fumes -- dangerous for humans. The punishment will be applicable for them," the cabinet secretary said.