Govt Allocates Tk 2.5 Billion to Bring July-Injured Students Back to Classrooms
Collected Photo
Many young people were injured during the intense anti-quota movement in July 2024. Although the physical wounds from gunshot injuries may have gradually healed, many of their educational journeys came to a halt. Some were unable to return to normal life even after trying, while others continue to suffer from trauma. To help these students return to classrooms with books and educational support, the government has launched a special assistance project worth Tk 2.5 billion.
Under the project, medical treatment, rehabilitation, regular counseling to overcome trauma, and educational support for injured students will be brought under a single framework. The same initiative will also promote inclusive education for students with special needs across the country.
The project will be implemented by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Ministry of Education over a five-year period, from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2032. According to DSHE officials, the Ministry of Finance has already approved funding following a proposal from the Ministry of Education.
Project officials said that support for the injured had previously focused mainly on treatment and rehabilitation. The new initiative aims not only to restore the educational lives of injured students but also to improve the learning environment for students with special needs through teacher training, distribution of educational materials, and infrastructure development.
Under the project, a comprehensive database of students with special needs will be created at the upazila level. Educational institutions will be equipped with ramps, special washrooms, and other necessary infrastructure. Training and awareness workshops for teachers and relevant stakeholders are also included. In addition, proposals have been made to appoint a computer operator, an accountant, and a cleaner for five years.
The initiative will also provide regular counseling to help injured students cope with trauma, anxiety, and mental stress, while monitoring their education, treatment, and rehabilitation. Students who dropped out due to the movement will be brought back to educational institutions, and they will receive books, educational materials, and other learning support. Extra academic assistance and remedial education will also be arranged for students who have missed classes for a long period.
Earlier, the interim government introduced several support programs for those injured during the July–August 2024 mass uprising. Financial assistance for treatment came from the Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Social Welfare. Later, Tk 4.052 billion was allocated in the 2025–26 national budget for the families of martyrs and the injured from the July uprising. That funding was used for treatment, rehabilitation, and financial support. However, the new project will focus specifically on students injured during the movement.
Speaking to Agamir Somoy, DSHE Director General Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel said that many students injured in the July mass uprising experienced disruptions in their education due to long-term treatment and trauma. He said the government aims to reintegrate these students into mainstream education, with the project emphasizing both educational and medical support, alongside rehabilitation.
Welcoming the initiative, one of the key coordinators of the July uprising, Sarjis Alam, said that those injured in July require not only short-term support but also long-term treatment and rehabilitation. He added that affected families also need rehabilitation support, as many households suffer when their sole earning member becomes bedridden after an injury. Therefore, incentives related to rehabilitation, education, and healthcare should be ensured.
However, he also urged the education administration to ensure that the project does not become a tool for corruption or misuse, and that no fraudulent individuals falsely claiming to be genuine July movement participants are able to receive the benefits.
