Caught in tangles of rules, July uprising victims allege compensation delays

Infographic: TBS

Victims of the July movement have raised allegations of mismanagement and bureaucratic delays in compiling a comprehensive list of the injured and martyred, as well as in providing financial assistance.

Despite repeated attempts to seek clarification, no satisfactory response has been received from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, said Nasiruddin Patwari, convener of the National Citizens' Committee.

In a written statement, the committee expressed concerns over prolonged delays, lack of transparency, absence of empathy and professionalism and dissatisfaction with the medical services provided.

Tamjid Hasan, who was injured on 19 July in the capital's Rayerbag after being shot with pellets at close range, has already spent nearly Tk5 lakh on two surgeries. He requires another operation to complete his treatment.

He said almost three months have passed since November, yet he has not received any assistance or response from the foundation.

"I am barely managing with help from my relatives in Cumilla," he said, adding that the foundation's website not being available in Bangla has added to the complications.

"Many injured individuals like me cannot navigate the website to check for updates on our applications."

Yasin Mia, who was shot in Azampur, Uttara, on 18 July, underwent 13 surgeries and spent Tk7 lakh. Initially, he received Tk1 lakh from the foundation but has since struggled with bureaucratic hurdles.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Yasin said, "The lack of coordination and bureaucratic red tape are the main reasons for the delay in financial assistance. I had to go through at least eight stages to receive aid. Many victims cannot follow these complex procedures due to a lack of understanding."

During a representatives' meeting of the National Citizens' Committee, convener Nasiruddin Patwari said, "Many martyrs have died due to the lack of proper treatment. They were not even sent abroad for medical care. We do not see any effective initiative from the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation."

"We had sent a letter to the foundation seeking an explanation about their support efforts for those still fighting for their lives. Our chief organiser Sarjis Alam and a martyr's brother Mugdha have repeatedly sought answers but have received no clear response," he added.

Foundation's role and challenges

The Department of Social Services approved the foundation's executive committee on 10 September 2024, to provide healthcare, financial aid and long-term support to the families of those injured and martyred during the student and public uprising.

Initially, on 17 September, the foundation announced a financial grant of Tk5 lakh for each martyr's family and up to Tk1 lakh for each injured individual.

In the second meeting held on 21 October, a leadership reshuffle took place, with Sarjis Alam becoming the general secretary and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho assuming the role of chief executive officer.

Amid mounting criticism, Sarjis Alam resigned from his position in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Complex procedures for aid

Yasin Mia, a member of the sub-cell responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured, highlighted the complexities involved in receiving financial aid.

He said the foundation requires official forms to be sealed by a BCS doctor or hospital director, and the discharge ticket must bear an MBBS doctor's seal. Additionally, applicants must provide a bKash account linked to their NID, or their parent's NID if they do not have one, with the doctor's seal.

Furthermore, applicants must submit a photograph of their injuries, which must be entered into the Management Information System (MIS) at a government hospital, upazila health complex, or the Directorate General of Health Services.

These documents must then be verified by the Civil Surgeon's or Deputy Commissioner's office at the patient's permanent address. Finally, all documents are to be submitted to the July Foundation via postal mail, email, WhatsApp, or in person.

Hasan Enam, secretary of the Special Cell of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, called for a one-step solution to reduce communication gaps and bureaucratic hurdles.

"A unique case ID would have reduced harassment for the injured and the families of the deceased. If a gazetted list of all victims had been prepared, these issues would not have arisen. Though 834 martyrs' names have been gazetted, not all have received support, and many names are still missing from the list," he said.

Financial assistance distribution

On 17 January, the foundation's website reported that a total of Tk53.64 crore had been distributed among 2,720 families affected by the July-August student uprising. Of this, Tk33.15 crore was allocated to 663 martyr families, while Tk20.49 crore was distributed among 2,057 injured individuals.

However, the official figures indicate that over 11,000 individuals were injured, and 834 were deceased. The process of preparing a comprehensive list is still ongoing.

Citizen Committee's concerns

On Wednesday, the office cell of the National Citizens' Committee sent a letter to the foundation's CEO, highlighting five major concerns: delays in financial assistance, lack of transparency regarding submitted applications, absence of empathy and professionalism among foundation officials, and dissatisfaction with the medical services provided.

The letter mentioned that several injured individuals and martyr families had submitted applications and received token numbers but had not received financial support even after months of waiting.

In some cases, applicants were informed without clear explanations that their applications could not be processed and were advised to reapply, causing frustration and uncertainty.

Concerns were also raised about the foundation's treatment of victims, with reports of rude and dismissive behaviour when seeking information via the helpline or in-person visits.

Also, the letter highlighted issues related to the MIS verification list, with many injured individuals not included, leading to confusion and further delays in determining eligibility for support.

Attempts to contact the foundation's CEO, Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, for comments over the phone were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls.

Similarly, efforts to reach foundation member and Social Welfare Adviser Sharmin M Murshed did not receive phone calls.

The foundation's Chief Customer Service Officer Sayedur Rahman Shahed told TBS "Many individuals are not listed in the Ministry of Health's official records of injured persons, which prevents us from providing assistance."

He added, "Several applicants fail to provide sufficient medical documentation to prove their injuries were sustained during the movement. We have also identified numerous fraudulent cases, and funds have been recovered from three individuals so far."