PM handed over the cheques to the family members of martyrs in BDR carnage

She handed over a cheque for Tk 4.80 lakh, provided by Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), to each family of martyred army officers for the sixth year (current year) at a simple ceremony at her office here this morning.
Responding to the sincere request of the Prime Minister after the BDR massacre at Peelkhana on February 25-26 in 2009, a total of 26 banks declared to give financial assistance of Taka 40,000 per month to each family of the martyred army officers for ten years.
Sheikh Hasina first distributed the cheques for the financial assistance on April 1 in 2009.
Accordingly, the BAB has already handed over Taka 14 crore to the family members of the army officers for the years of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
After the handing over of cheques today, a munajat (prayer) was offered seeking divine blessings for the martyred army officers. PM's Deputy Military Secretary Colonel Mohammad Mahbubur Rashid conducted the function.
Later, the Prime Minister talked to the family members of the martyred army officers and enquired about their well-being.
PM's Security Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, BAB President Nazrul Islam Majumder, chairmen and managing directors of different banks and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
After the tragic incident at Peelkhana, at the sincere and personal directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a number of measures were taken including instant financial assistance to the family members of the martyred army officers from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund, the Army Welfare Fund and the BGB Welfare Fund.
Arrangement for housing has been made for the family members of the martyred army officers in the Army Officers' Residential areas.
In its continuation, later interest of the house building loan for 15 martyred officers was waived. Besides, the interest of Trust Bank loan of 25 martyred officers for the year 2009 was exempted.
The government has provided jobs to 33 members of the martyred families. Of them three are working in Bangladesh missions abroad.
Arrangements were also made to admit 89 children of those families to different educational institutes including 10 to cadet colleges with minimum or without tuition fees.
Plots have been allocated for the family members of 37 martyred officers at Mirpur DOHS, while the construction work of two well- furnished flats for each of 10 slain officers is going on at the same place. DOHS and RAJUK plots were given to 11 martyred officers before the tragic incident.
Family members of 42 martyred officers were allocated houses temporarily inside different cantonments.
As per the service rules of the Armed Forces, grants from the welfare fund, Family Security Scheme, DSOP Fund, and cash instead of leave were given, while monthly pension is being provided regularly.
Supervision and assistance activities for the martyred family members are ongoing which were introduced after the incident.