Yunus calls for reconciliation
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday called for reconciliation.
Yunus said the people linked to the ousted fascist government were still here. “They did not go anywhere… They will have to change to merge with us,” he said while speaking at a meeting with the family members of July uprising victims at the Chief Adviser’s Office.
He said if the elements of the ousted regime continue to demonstrate the same behaviour, it would not be tolerated.
“We will not indulge in injustice. Those who have broken the law will face the consequences. But to those who have not, we will tell them that ‘you have caused me a lot of pain, but I will not do the same to you. This is your country too. The country belongs to all of us. We are all children of this soil’,” he said.
Yunus went on to say, “They need to be brought to the right path. They need to be told that what you have done was wrong. You have to make them understand that their path is wrong and they should apologise for what they have done. This is how our country should move forward. Constant conflict will only hold us back.”
“We have to win them over. If you think that you will hit them and they will hit back, then there will be no end to this. You have demanded justice and the government will complete the trial,” he said, adding that justice cannot be served in hurry.
“The main thing about a trial is that it should be fair… There should be no injustice… The sacrifices were made because we stood against injustice. If we indulge in injustice, where is the difference between them and us?
“Our country’s future depends on our ability to overcome conflict. We must find a way forward together,” he said.
At the programme, the chief adviser reassured the families of the victims that all killings and enforced disappearances would be investigated, and the perpetrators would be brought to justice. He also urged them to be aware of any moves to perpetrate violence or cause bloodshed.
He inaugurated a government programme for providing state financial assistance to families of July uprising victims and martyrs by handing over 21 cheques.
Members of three families of martyrs and three protesters of the July uprising spoke at the meeting. They broke down in tears while describing their experiences.
They raised various issues, including receiving state honours, financial assistance, and rehabilitation.
The chief adviser said, “I think that the sacrifices of those, for which I can call my country a new Bangladesh, cannot be measured by any scale.
“You are living history. I am grateful to you … A nation that cannot remember its history, has no future. This recognition is my gratitude to you on behalf of the nation.
At the meeting, the injured and families of the martyred were informed about the government’s programme.
“From today, the state has formally taken the responsibility of you,” Yunus said.
The martyrs of the July uprising will be called “July shaheed” and the injured will be called “July joddha”. Identity cards would be issued for them.
The family of each July shaheed would receive one-time financial assistance of Tk 30 lakh. Of the amount, Tk 10 lakh would be provided in national savings bonds in fiscal 2024-2025 and the remaining Tk 20 lakh would be given in the bonds in fiscal 2025-2026.
In addition, each July shaheed’s family would get a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000. The shaheed’s family members would get priority in government and semi-government jobs.
The July joddhas would get medical benefits in two categories.
The seriously injured ones would be given a one-time aid of Tk 5 lakh as per the “Category A”.
Of the amount, Tk 2 lakh would be provided in cheque in fiscal 2024-2025 and Tk 3 lakh in fiscal 2025-2026.
In addition, each seriously injured July joddha would get a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000.
They would receive medical treatment at various government hospitals all their lives. They would also be able to get medical services at domestic and foreign hospitals on the recommendation of their medical boards.
In “Category B”, the July joddhas would be given a one-time aid of Tk 3 lakh. Of the amount, Tk 1 lakh would be given in cheque in fiscal 2024-2025 and the remaining Tk 2 lakh in fiscal 2025-2026.
They would receive a monthly allowance of Tk 15,000.
July joddhas would also get priority in government and semi-government jobs.
So far, the government has published a list of 834 July shaheeds. The list of the injured will be published soon.
At the programme, Adviser Nahid Islam apologised for the delay in recognising the July shaheeds and July joddhas. He said the delay happened despite them being sincere about the issue.
Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk E Azam and Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum were present on the occasion.
LondonGBDESK//
Comments are closed.