Broken promises to the victims of the July uprising
The July Shaheed Smrity Foundation was launched with solemn promises of care and financial support for those who suffered in the July 2024 uprising.
Yet, nearly a year later, thousands of victims remain in limbo, their lives defined by waiting, repeated pleas, and mounting despair.
An English daily reported on Monday that, with an initial fund of Tk 100 crore from the chief adviser’s relief and welfare fund, the foundation was envisioned as a lifeline.
In reality, it has failed to keep pace with the needs of those it was meant to serve.
Out of 14,541 officially registered wounded individuals, fewer than 7,000 have received the initial Tk 1,00,000 grant, while only 523 have been supported in the second phase.
The plight of the remaining 2,027 victims — many living in rural poverty, carrying untreated injuries and debts — reflects both inefficiency and systemic neglect.
The tragic story of Rakibul Islam, crippled after being run over by a law enforcement vehicle, illustrates this failure.
Despite repeated visits to the foundation, he remains unpaid, resorting to desperate measures like threatening a hunger strike.
His anguish — “They just don’t care about us”—echoes the sentiment of many others, such as carpenter Saiful Islam, drowning in debt after private hospital treatment, still waiting for help.
The foundation blames fund shortages, with its reserves dwindling to Tk 1.2 crore by mid-July.
Mismanagement and fraud have compounded the problem: duplicate payments, false claims, and a lack of proper oversight have tarnished its credibility.
The operational costs alone, at Tk 3 crore annually, raise questions about prioritisation when victims cannot even afford basic treatment.
While the government has pledged to provide regular allowances, health cards, and even housing for martyr families, the slow pace of action is unacceptable.
A promise of rehabilitation is of little use to a man unable to buy food or repay treatment loans today.
The July uprising was a turning point in Bangladesh’s political history, and those who bore its cost — losing limbs, livelihoods, and loved ones — deserve more than hollow assurances.
The foundation must urgently overhaul its disbursement mechanism, ensure full transparency, and prioritise the most vulnerable.
The nation owes these victims not just financial support but dignity and justice. To neglect them now would be to betray the very spirit of sacrifice that the foundation was created to honour.