Dhaka: Finance Adviser to the interim government, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, has pledged to provide financial assistance and vocational training to help make the Shaheed family members and injured beneficiaries of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) self-reliant. This initiative targets those who participated in the anti-discrimination student movement during July-August 2024.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the sacrifices and participation of SDF members reflect the solidarity of the student and public uprising during the mass movement of July-August 2024, which saw engagement from people across various societal sectors. Dr. Salehuddin, who also serves as the adviser of the Science and Technology ministry, affirmed this commitment while speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony held at the SDF headquarters in the city. During the event, financial aid and grants were distributed to the families of Shaheed and injured SDF members involved in the July-August protests.
A total of seven individuals fro
m beneficiary families under the World Bank-supported Resilience, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood Improvement (RELI) Project of SDF were martyred in the frontline movement, 16 sustained serious injuries, and 33 others were injured during the July-August protests. Several additional individuals were affected to varying extents. At the ceremony, each of the seven martyred families received Taka 200,000, while each of the 16 seriously injured individuals received Taka 100,000, and 33 injured members received Taka 50,000 each as financial assistance.
Alongside this financial support, the affected families have been actively engaged in poverty alleviation and livelihood improvement activities at the grassroots level, aligning with the project’s objectives. The event was presided over by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Majid, Chairman of the SDF Board of Directors and Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The ceremony was attended by Nazma Mubarek, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministr
y of Finance, along with senior officials, members of the SDF Board of Directors and Governing Body, journalists, and family members of the martyred and injured. The primary goal of the ceremony was to honor the martyrs and offer prayers for their souls, while expressing sympathy and support to the families of those affected by the anti-discrimination movement of July-August 2024.
The SDF, an autonomous, non-profit organization under the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance, has been operational since 2001. Its mission focuses on improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Bangladesh.