THE delay in disbursing grants and allowances to those wounded and to the families of those martyred during the July uprising is deeply disappointing. The interim government — formed after the student-led mass movement toppled the authoritarian Awami League government in August 2024 — repeatedly pledged that support and rehabilitation for the victims would be a top priority. Yet, it has failed to provide timely assistance in the form of grants and allowances. Although many victims received the first phase of support from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, established on September 17, 2024, with an initial allocation of Tk 100 crore, the process has since slowed. While some beneficiaries are still awaiting the second installment, many others have yet to receive any form of assistance at all. As of July 15, the foundation had disbursed Tk 1,00,000 each to 6,691 wounded individuals and Tk 5,00,000 each to 806 out of 852 families of the martyred. Only about 523 individuals have received the second-phase grant, leaving a significant number still in need. Of the 14,541 people officially registered as wounded, at least 8,718 have sought government support.
Worryingly, over 2,000 victims have received no assistance to date, while those who did receive initial support are now struggling to access further help. The foundation’s chief executive officer has attributed the delay to a lack of funds and a need to revise the classification of victims. The foundation currently divides the wounded into three categories — Category A comprises those who are critically injured and have lost limbs, Category B comprises those who are severely injured but have not lost any limbs and Category C comprises those who are injured but can work. This bureaucratic classification has led to frustration and despair among many of the injured. On July 8, after repeated delays and broken promises, around 25 injured individuals, some undergoing treatment in Dhaka hospitals, staged a protest and vandalised the foundation’s office. Following the incident, 73 of them finally received the second-phase grant. The finance adviser has since announced that the government has allocated Tk 30,00,000 for each martyr’s family, promised regular allowances for the wounded, and introduced health cards to ensure their access to public hospital care. However, these steps, while necessary, cannot excuse the earlier mismanagement.
What all this underscores is the deplorable state of administrative inefficiency and governmental neglect. The victims of the July uprising and the families of the martyred deserve more than promises — they deserve dignity, timely support and justice. The government must urgently allocate the necessary funds and streamline the disbursement process to ensure that all entitled individuals receive the benefits without further delay.