Bangladesh grants anti-Hasina warriors tax relief like 1971 freedom fighters
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh on Monday categorised the wounded protesters who toppled the regime of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as 'July Warriors', and offered them a tax-free income of up to 5.25 lakh taka for two years. The tax relief brings them on par with the war-wounded freedom fighters of 1971.The tax relief came in the first Budget presented by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday. This was the first Budget since Hasina was forced into exile in a massive uprising that reportedly saw the deaths of around 1,500 people.advertisementThe tax relief to the 'July Warriors' came even as the government was under attack from all sides over providing care to the protesters injured and maimed in the crackdown during the July-August protests of last year.
The Dhaka Tribune's portal reported that a "new personal income tax category called 'July warriors' has been introduced by the government, offering tax relief on incomes up to Tk5,25,000 for two years beginning in the 2026–27 fiscal year".The report also said that the tax-free income limit for the 1971 war-wounded freedom fighters has been raised from 5 lakh taka to 5.25 lakh taka.This brings the July Warriors on par with the wounded freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.In February, the Yunus government officially recognised 1,401 individuals as 'July Warriors' for their role in the protests that forced the Awami League regime to step down in August 2024, reported the Dhaka Tribune.TK 405 CRORE ALLOCATED FOR JULY PROTEST VICTIMS' FAMILIESadvertisementAn amount of Tk 405.20 crore was also allocated in the budget for the rehabilitation and welfare of the families of those martyred and injured in the July uprising.In his budget speech, Bangladesh's finance adviser also announced that a policy will soon be introduced to provide financial allowances to the families of those killed or injured in the July protests.Alongside this, the Yunus government has set up a "July Mass Uprising Directorate to preserve the movement's legacy and oversee medical treatment and rehabilitation efforts for the wounded and their families", reported the Dhaka-based Business Standard.Tune InMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Bangladesh: Yunus govt's Mujibur crackdown continues, revokes his ‘freedom fighter' status
Rahman, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's father, who is known as 'Bangabandhu', will no longer be identified as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, despite his efforts in the creation and founding of the country read more In October 1961, Mujibur Rahman and his family shifted to the house at Dhanmondi 32. It served as his house until the day he died -- in 1975. File image/AFP The interim government in Bangladesh has revoked the 'Bir Muktijoddha' (freedom fighter) status of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus moves to strip the country of Awami League's legacy. Rahman, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's father, who is known as 'Bangabandhu', will no longer be identified as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, despite his efforts in the creation and founding of the country. Several other key leaders who played a role in the Bangladesh Liberation War have lost their 'Bir Muktijoddha' status. These include Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M. Mansur Ali, and AHM Qamaruzzaman. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who is a 'Bir Muktijoddha'? A Bir Muktijoddha is recognised as an individual who, between March 26 and December 16, 1971, either underwent training within villages across Bangladesh or crossed into India to join training camps, to fight in the Liberation War. These individuals actively participated in the struggle against the occupying Pakistani forces to secure Bangladesh's independence. Recognised freedom fighters must be civilians who met the minimum age requirement set by the government at the time of the war. In addition, members of the armed forces who participated in the conflict are also to be acknowledged as freedom fighters. 400 others lose status Meanwhile, the Yunus-led government has also revoked the freedom fighter status of 400 elected politicians from the 1970 general elections. According to the ordinance, published by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law under the authority of the President, these leaders will now be classified as 'associates of the Liberation War' rather than as freedom fighters. Rahman's picture removed from notes Last weekend, Bangladesh introduced new banknotes without the picture of Rahman. The new design of the currency notes will portray natural landscapes and traditional landmarks. Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khana, told AFP, 'Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks.'
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Mujibur out, Hindu temple targeted by Islamists to be on Bangladesh banknotes
The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, is not only trying to reform the administration, but also steering it away from the legacy of Mujibur Rahman, one of the country's founding fathers and Awami League co-founder. Bangladesh is introducing banknotes replacing Mujib's portrait with images, including that of a Hindu temple. It is the 18th century Kantajew temple, which survived a bomb attack in 2015 and has a rich history, that will be embossed on the new 20-taka mosque was also coming up on the premises of the centuries-old Kantajew temple and saw strong protests by the Hindu community of Bangladesh in 20-taka currency note was issued on June 1, and on the obverse has the "picture of the historical architecture of Kantajew temple, Dinajpur on the leftside", according to information on the website of Bangla Bank, which is the central bank of the country. Like all the new currency notes, the 20-taka one also features a picture of Bangladesh's national flower -- water lily with leaf and bud -- in light colour in the on the reverse, the 20-taka note has the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery located in Naogaon district of Rajshahi division. In 1985, the monastery was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the three such sites in Paharpur Buddhist Vihara is the best-known Buddhist monastery not just in Bangladesh, but in the Indian Subcontinent. Dating back to the 8th century, the Paharpur Buddhist Vihara was built during the reign of the Pal dynasty, and is one of the finest specimens of intricate terracotta art and architecture in the region of than the temple and monastery, there are three Islamic places of worship -- Shait-Gumbuz Masjid on Taka 100, Tara Masjid on taka 50 and Baitul Mukarram Mosque on taka 10 -- on the new series of currency the days following the fall of the Hasina regime, reports of hundreds of attacks on religious minorities emerged from Bangladesh. The interim government has also been accused of remaining a mute spectator to these attacks. The newly issued 20-taka note features the historic 18th-century Kantajew Hindu temple on the obverse, in place of the earlier Sheikh Mujibur Rahman portrait. (Image: Bangladesh Bank) HISTORY OF KANTAJEW TEMPLE OF DINAJPUR ON BANGLADESH CURRENCY NOTEThe Kantajew temple, which is on the 20-taka note, is a magnificent terracotta monument and one of the most-visited temples in Kantajew Temple is also known as Kantaji Temple or Kantanagar name is derived from Kantaji, a form of Kanta or Krishna, according to a United News of Bangladesh (UNB) report. Built in the 18th century, the Kantajew Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his queen, Rukmini, according to construction of the temple was started by Maharaja Prannath of Dinajpur in 1704 and was completed by his son, Maharaja Ramnath, in the region of undivided Bengal known for Vaishnavite influence, the Kantajew Temple holds special ATTACK, MOSQUE BUILDING ON KANTAJEW TEMPLE PREMISESThe Kantajew Temple was attacked by terrorists of New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) who hurled three bombs as devotees were celebrating Rash Mela in December 2015, according to a report in Dhaka Tribune in New JMB is an affiliate of the Syria-based terrorist organisation, Islamic State or ISIS, and is a banned terror outfit in India and Australia among other three terrorists of the JMB were caught right after the attack and two more in 2017, the terror organisation didn't admit to the temple attack came after recent threats to the temple's priest, urging him not to organise any religious gatherings, Abdul Mazid, the officer-in-charge of Kahalur Police Station, also emerged of the construction of a mosque on the Kantajew Temple land, triggering "tension and frustration among the local Hindu community", according to a Dhaka Tribune report from March of Parliament of Dinajpur-1 constituency, Md Zakaria Zaka, inaugurated the mosque's construction, according to the was during the Hasina reports about attempts to build the mosque, Religious Affairs Advisor to the Yunus government, AFM Khalid Hossain in September 2024, said: "There is government land next to the mosque; let the mosque expansion take place on that leased land, while the temple property remains with the temple."It is the same Kantajew Temple that is now on the 20-taka Bangladesh currency JOURNEY OF THE 20-TAKA NOTE OF BANGLADESHThe changing portraits on the currency notes, in fact, reflect Bangladesh's political 20-taka note was last changed in 2012 with the "portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation", on the obverse, according to the Bangladesh Bank note was changed in 2012 with the portrait of Mujib, the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The previous version of the 20-taka currency note featured a portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which has now been removed by the interim government of Bangladesh. (Image: Bangladesh Bank) Hasina and her Awami League came to power in Bangladesh in the 2009 election, and remained till her ouster in a protest movement in July-August ran an authoritarian regime, and any remark against Mujib was considered blasphemy. That went to such extremes that protesters vented their anger at Mujibur Rahman's statues after Hasina was forced to flee on August the Hasina government changed the face of the 20-taka note with Mujib's portrait on the obverse, it was the Choto Sona Mosque that was featured on both sides of the currency 15-16th century mosque located in Nawabganj district was featured on the note issued in 2002, just a year after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh combine came to 2012 change got the Choto Sona Mosque shifted to the reverse of the 20-taka currency with Mujibur Rahman losing currency, at least with the leaders of the interim government, the 20-taka note features new images. It is the 18th century Kantajew temple, a target of Islamists, and the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery that are on the two sides of the 20-taka note.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Man Dupes Friend of Over Rs10 Lakh in Credit Card Fraud
Nagpur: A case of cheating and criminal breach of trust was registered at Shanti Nagar police station after a 32-year-old man was allegedly duped of over Rs10.37 lakh by someone he trusted. The accused, Vishal Khame (29), a resident of Sindhi Colony, Khamla, is accused of luring the victim into a fraudulent electronic goods business scheme. According to police, the complainant, Sachin Giri, a resident of Kawrapeth, was approached by Khame sometime between October 20, 2023, and May 30, 2024. Khame claimed he made profits by purchasing electronic items using credit cards at discounted rates and then selling them for a higher price. Initially, Khame gained Giri's trust by making small transactions that appeared profitable. Encouraged by the returns, Giri allowed Khame to use his credit card — and later those of his relatives — for larger purchases. Over time, Khame racked up expenses totalling Rs10,37,000 on their cards. However, things took a turn when Khame failed to pay any of the credit card bills or return the purchased goods, causing massive financial loss to Giri and his family. Realising he had been cheated, Giri approached the police and filed a formal complaint. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is ongoing. The case has raised concerns about increasing frauds involving misuse of credit and false business promises. Authorities urge citizens to remain cautious and verify any financial arrangement thoroughly before sharing personal or financial information.
