Bangladesh and the United States yesterday (27 July) discussed cooperation in preserving the history of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 Uprising, alongside welfare and rehabilitation programmes for the families of martyrs and injured fighters.

The issues came up during a meeting between Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen at the minister's office, according to a press release.

The minister and senior ministry officials welcomed the ambassador before holding detailed discussions on efforts to preserve the historical records of the Liberation War and the July Uprising.

During the meeting, the ministry highlighted progress in preparing an accurate list of Liberation War martyrs and heroic freedom fighters. 

It said the National Freedom Fighter Council (JAMUKA) is using information technology and digital profiling to compile a neutral and authentic database.

The ministry also briefed the ambassador on government initiatives for the families of those killed and injured in the July Uprising. It said the July Mass Uprising Directorate has prepared a database of 843 martyrs and 15,030 injured fighters.

Under the programme, families of martyrs are receiving Tk 30 lakh in National Savings Certificates and a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000. Injured fighters are receiving one-time grants of Tk 5 lakh, Tk 3 lakh and Tk 1 lakh under Categories A, B and C, respectively, along with monthly allowances in line with government regulations.

The ministry said 154 critically injured people have so far been sent to Thailand, Turkey and Russia for treatment at government expense. An allocation of Tk 448.11 crore has been earmarked for the sector in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Ambassador Christensen praised the ministry's initiatives, particularly the use of information technology to prepare databases of martyrs and freedom fighters and the rehabilitation programmes for those affected by the July Uprising.

At the end of the meeting, the minister presented the ambassador with commemorative books and gifts, including President Zia: A Political Biography and Begum Khaleda Zia: The Life and Story.