Freedom fighters from the 1971 Liberation War and their dependents have been given a major boost with the passing of new legislation drawn up to safeguard their welfare.
The Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Bill, 2018 was unanimously passed by voice votes on Wednesday with Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah in the chair, reports BSS.
Placing the bill, Liberation Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq said the proposed bill will replace the existing Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Order, 1972 (President’s Order 94 of 1972).
“The proposed act will ensure all the freedom fighters to get the honorarium but the earlier ordinance had no such scope,” he said.
Members of the military, police, Ansar and other working forces, who have other sources of income, will also be covered under the bill.
In the absence of the freedom fighters, their wife or husband will get the benefit and in the absence of the freedom fighter's spouse, the parent will get the benefit.
If the parent is also absent, then the benefit will pass over to the freedom fighter’s child or children.
In the absence of all the above persons mentioned, the siblings of the freedom fighter will be entitled to the benefit.
