Sharmin S Murshid, adviser to the Ministries of Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs, announced that Tk50,000 would be distributed today to the families of the 105 children who were killed during the July uprising.
She shared that the grant handover ceremony will take place at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
Murshid made this statement during a briefing on various contemporary issues at the secretariat on Sunday afternoon.
She confirmed that 105 children had died in the uprising, based on data finalized by the Department of Health Services. The information was sourced from their records.
On World Children's Day, October 7, Tk50,000 will be given to the family of each child killed, along with a certificate. The compensation is designated for children up to 18 years old.
The adviser also mentioned that a total of Tk82,70,898 has been allocated for the students injured in the anti-discrimination movement, through the Social Service Office and the Upazila Patient Welfare Association.
Additionally, she announced that the World Bank is providing $5 million for the rehabilitation and treatment of students and workers injured in the uprising. The formalities are in their final stages, and the funds will be released soon.
Murshid also highlighted that Unicef’s observations reveal that 43% of the 12 million people listed under various social security allowances are ineligible for the benefits. This includes recipients of the Ministry of Women and Children’s programs, such as old age and widow allowances. The World Bank is addressing this issue and is recommending solutions, while the government is actively working on correcting the discrepancies.
Furthermore, she mentioned that there are currently 12 daycare centers under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and there is a demand to establish small daycare corners in each government institution. Letters will be sent to all government institutions with the aim of opening daycare centers in these facilities by June 2026.
"We are also working to expand daycare services to the private sector, creating both income opportunities and service provision. Keeping our goals in mind, we are steadily moving toward this objective," she added.
When asked about the election roadmap, Murshid stated that discussions on the matter have not yet taken place within the cabinet but that ongoing meetings are being held with political parties. The idea is still under consideration.
Regarding the restructuring of the Election Commission, she said: "Many things have yet to be finalized. It has only been two months, so give it some time. You will get answers to these questions. Holding elections is one of our goals, but a proper context needs to be created for that."