Research on Liberation War, July uprising to receive grants up to Tk25 lakh

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has issued a new guideline to provide financial grants for research on the Liberation War and the July uprising, aiming to ensure more institutional, transparent, and accountable research activities.

The guideline, titled Research (Administration, Financing and Management) Guideline 2026, was recently published to support quality research in these historic and national priority areas.

According to the guideline, grants ranging from Tk5 lakh to Tk 25 lakh will be provided depending on the nature and scope of the research.

Research projects have been divided into three categories. Institutional or team-based research under Category A will receive between Tk10 lakh and Tk25 lakh. Individual research under Category B will receive between Tk5 lakh and Tk10 lakh, while Category C individual research projects will be eligible for grants of up to Tk5 lakh. The funding limits may be adjusted depending on the importance and scope of the research.

The duration of the research projects has also been specified. Category A projects must be completed within a maximum of 12 months, Category B within nine months, and Category C within six months.

The allocated funds will be disbursed in three phases, with 40% released after approval of the inception report, another 40% after submission of a mid-term report when at least half of the work is completed, and the remaining 20% after the final report is submitted and approved.

The guideline also states that no new installment will be released until the accounts of the previous installment are properly adjusted.

In terms of financial structure, the guideline allows up to 50% of the total research budget to be distributed as honorarium among the research team. The research director may receive up to 25%, co-researchers up to 15%, and research associates and assistants up to 10%. The remaining funds must be spent on data collection, analysis, report preparation, printing, and other necessary research expenses.

The guideline also outlines a wide range of research areas. These include the background, history, impact, and outcomes of the 1971 Liberation War, public participation, verification of the lists of freedom fighters and martyrs, documentation of genocide, war crimes, human rights violations, and refugee issues, as well as research on martyred intellectuals and mass killing sites.

Other areas include education and curriculum development related to the Liberation War, public awareness, and the role and experiences of women, children, and ethnic minorities.

Research topics will also cover the July uprising, including its background, causes, expectations, achievements, and challenges, as well as the rehabilitation of injured individuals and families of martyrs, preservation of memories, and the implementation of its spirit in state reforms.

The development of digital archives, GIS mapping, and preservation of historical documents have also been included among the priority areas.

To ensure accountability, the guideline states that if a research project is not completed within the specified timeframe or if the report is rejected, the grant money must be returned. Any unspent funds must also be deposited back to the ministry. Researchers will be required to submit vouchers, receipts, and detailed expenditure statements for all expenses, and all financial activities will be subject to government financial rules and audit systems.

Read More

Working people returning to Dhaka after Eid

The guideline further states that research may be conducted in both Bangla and English, and maintaining quality, neutrality, and ethical standards will be mandatory. Any proven act of plagiarism will result in cancellation of the research and legal action.

The ministry also noted that the research findings may be used in policymaking, legal reforms, curriculum development, and in international forums.