The July Shaheed Smriti Foundation is grappling with a severe fund crisis, hampering its efforts to provide financial assistance to the families of 34 July martyrs and 9,776 people injured during the July uprising.
Besides, the foundation has been unable to pay salaries to its 38 employees for the past four months and owes around Tk 30 lakh in outstanding office rent accumulated over the last one and a half years, according to its CEO Lt Col (retd) Kamal Akbar.
This year, the foundation submitted a proposal to the ministries of finance and Liberation War affairs, seeking Tk 10 crore for operational expenditure and Tk 263 crore in additional funds to assist families of July martyrs and the injured.
However, no allocation was made for the foundation in the national budget for FY 2026‑27, officials at the finance ministry said, adding that the organisation was advised to approach the Liberation War affairs Ministry instead.
Faruk Hossain, joint secretary at the Liberation War affairs ministry and additional charge of the July Mass Uprising wing, said the ministry received an application from the foundation about five months ago.
“We are not authorised to allocate funds to the foundation, as there is no budgetary allocation for this kind of non-government organisation. If the government wishes, it can disburse funds directly, as the interim government did,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, families of the July martyrs receive a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000, while the injured receive Tk 10,000-20,000 depending on severity, along with lifelong free medical treatment and job rehabilitation.
The Directorate of the July Mass Uprising and the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation jointly oversee disbursement and rehabilitation programmes.
Between August 2025 and June 2026, the foundation submitted several applications to the ministries of Liberation War affairs, finance, social welfare, and disaster management and relief but received no funds.
Registered as a non‑government organisation on September 10, the foundation was approved by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Department of Social Services, and relevant NGO authorities.
The foundation provides healthcare, financial assistance, and implements programmes supporting affected families through education, job placement, entrepreneurship, and long‑term rehabilitation for those killed or injured during the uprising.
Initially, Prof Muhammad Yunus headed its governing body. After the BNP government took office, former environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan became the chief.
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Star file photo
According to foundation documents, Tk 383 crore was required to provide emergency financial assistance to 865 families of those killed and 15,903 people injured in July-August 2024.
The foundation received Tk 100 crore from the interim government’s relief fund on September 19, 2024, and Tk 22 crore in donations from other sources, totalling Tk 122 crore.
It has so far disbursed Tk 118.5 crore -- Tk 42 crore to 831 families of July martyrs and Tk 78 crore to 6,127 injured people -- in emergency financial assistance.
The foundation now requires Tk 263 crore to support the remaining 34 families and 9,776 injured people, the documents show.
CEO Lt Col (retd) Kamal Akbar said the organisation has yet to receive any additional government funding despite submitting about 15 applications over the past seven to eight months.
“Following the uprising, many injured people were hospitalised. Some lost limbs, while some suffered serious eye injuries. Many families fell into financial crisis as their sole earners were in hospital. That’s when it became necessary to coordinate emergency assistance through a one‑stop service.
“There were many urgent needs such as covering costs of operations, MRIs and artificial eyes for the injured. We had to provide these supports on humanitarian grounds. After the foundation was registered, we began receiving support from the government’s fund.”
He further said it has become urgent to clear salary arrears and ensure regular annual allocations, noting that the foundation needs Tk 5 crore to Tk 10 crore a year for operations.
“This is the government’s responsibility. Our officials and employees have provided medical and humanitarian assistance beyond their assigned duties, even from their salary budget,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain could not be reached for comment.
