The Assistant High Commission (HC) of India, stationed at Rajshahi, handed over scholarship cheques to 266 descendants of the freedom fighters at a ceremony yesterday.

Assistant High Commissioner Abhijit Chattopadhyay awarded the scholarships to higher secondary and undergraduate students of the region in Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of Rajshahi University.

A total of 10,000 students (5,000 from each of the groups) will be given scholarships over the next five years. Higher secondary students will receive a onetime grant of Tk 20,000 and the undergraduate ones Tk 50,000.

At the event, Fazle Hossain Badsha, a member of the parliament (Rajshahi Sadar), was present as the chief guest while Prof M Abdus Sobhan, vice chancellor of the university, a special guest.

The “Muktijodhha Scholarship” was initiated by the Indian government in 2006 for the children and grandchildren of the freedom fighters.