2,000 students to get Indian scholarships this year

The Indian government each year awards scholarships to the descendants of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and 2,000 students will receive the scholarships this year. 

Of the recipients, 1,000 are at the higher secondary level and the rest are undergraduate students, says a press release. 

The Gulshan branch of the State Bank of India started distributing the scholarship money on Wednesday. 

The Muktijoddha scholarship scheme was launched by India in 2006 for the descendants of freedom fighters. 

Originally, scholarships under the scheme were awarded to higher secondary and undergraduate students. Undergraduate students were awarded Tk24,000 each per year for a four-year period while higher secondary students were given Tk10,000 each per year for two years. 

Besides, a new scheme was launched during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in April 2017 to benefit 10,000 students over a period of five years. 

An amount of Tk20,000 is to be given to higher secondary students each, and Tk50,000 to undergraduate pupils each, under the new scheme. All the recipients are the direct descendants of freedom fighters.   

The Indian government sanctioned Tk35 crore for both schemes together. 

The scholarships are given to commemorate freedom fighters' contributions to the country's independence. 

Bangladesh and India have a unique historical legacy. Their relationship is deeply rooted in a shared culture, heritage, history, and geography.  

India attaches the highest importance to its friendship with Bangladesh and is committed to work to support the national efforts of Bangladesh for the betterment of their own people.  

Awarding such scholarships even during the Covid-19 Pandemic is in furtherance of the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh, the press statement read. 

It exemplifies the abiding commitment of the government and the people of India towards friendship with their brethren in Bangladesh.  

Until now, 17,082 students have benefited under the scholarship scheme, and Tk37.99 crore has been utilised for this purpose.