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The July Shaheed Smrity Foundation (JSSF), an organisation that supports the 2024 mass uprising victims and their families, is now passing through a tough time balancing demand and supply while performing its duties.
After spending around Tk117 crore in just a year, it now has only Tk3 crore left with more than 8,000 injured yet to receive any support.
The foundation’s struggle has exposed its haplessness and the government’s apparent lack of sincerity or failure to deal with the crisis facing victims of the uprising that paved the way for it to assume office, said people familiar with the matter.
Being unable to receive all instalments of the aid or any support at all, many July uprising victims and their family members have been facing difficulties, said sources.
Md Riazul Mawla Rizu, an injured July Uprising victim, said, “We have heard that the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation has a shortage of funds. Probably that is why it is slow in providing its service. We are not sure whether it is true or not. But if it is true and if the government is not doing anything despite knowing this then it is really unfortunate.”
13 months since JSSF formed, no new allocation
The Department of Social Welfare approved the executive committee of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation on 10 September last year to honour the martyrs and injured of the 2024 July uprising.
Two days later, the foundation was formally launched with Chief Adviser (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus as its chairman.
So far, it has collected a total of Tk120 crore, Tk100 crore from the CA’s fund, Tk5 crore from Bangladesh Bank and another Tk15 crore through donations, from various sources.
Despite the impressive size of the initial fund, the foundation now has only around Tk3 crore left.
Asked about the massive fund shortfall, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Lt Col (Retd) Kamal Akbar, told the Daily Sun, “We are facing a huge challenge ahead. As a private foundation, we rely solely on allocations and donations. But we are not receiving any new commitments.”
He also revealed that the foundation was supposed to receive Tk234 crore from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, but the amount was never disbursed.
Victims divided into categories, maximum still deprived
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, through a gazette notification, classified the injured victims of the July Uprising into three categories: A) severely injured persons, B) those who lost one body part, and C) those who sustained minor injuries and later recovered.
The foundation has been providing one-time financial aid in two phases.
“A Category” victims were promised Tk1 lakh in the first phase and Tk3 lakh in the second, totalling Tk4 lakh each.
“B Category” victims were initially to receive Tk1 lakh and later Tk2 lakh, totalling Tk3 lakh.
Meanwhile, “C Category” victims were promised Tk1 lakh in each phase, amounting to Tk2 lakh in total.
According to the latest records, the foundation listed 615 persons under Category A. Of them, 570 have received financial aid, while 45 are still waiting, requiring an additional Tk1.8 crore, said the JSSF officials.
In “B Category”, 1,143 persons were listed, of whom 899 have been paid, while 244 remain unpaid, requiring Tk7.32 crore, they said.
The “C Category” includes 12,187 injured individuals, among whom 4,364 have received assistance while 7,823 have not yet received any support. For them, an additional Tk156.46 crore will be needed, they added.
JSSF needs Tk350 crore more
In total, the foundation has provided aid to 5,833 out of 13,945 injured persons, leaving 8,112 still waiting for financial support.
Most of the “C Category” victims, in particular, were paid only once. The foundation still needs around Tk43 crore to complete these pending second-phase payments for “C Category”.
Officials said priority is being given to “A Category” victims, followed by B and C.
Apart from the injured, the foundation has also distributed Tk41 crore among 840 martyr families.
Foundation officials said they need over Tk350 crore to complete the distribution of aid among all injured victims.
JSSF’s rehabilitation programme falls short
The JSSF has launched a rehabilitation programme to help injured individuals rebuild their lives, which also requires additional funds, said sources at the foundation.
Under this programme, various vocational and technical training courses are being provided to the uprising victims. The programme includes courses on information and communication technology, electrical and electronics, digital marketing, freelancing, graphics design, web development, mobile servicing, automobile mechanics, driving and office management.
The programme is being conducted through institutions such as the National Youth Development Institute in Savar, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and local technical centres across the country.
Besides, the foundation also plans to provide support through various other means, but the scope in this regard is still limited. So far, only 19 injured persons have received small-scale support such as cattle farms, grocery shops or rickshaws to become self-reliant.
A JSSF official requesting anonymity said the number of beneficiaries is very small compared to the total injured population. As a result, many are still waiting for rehabilitation.
Billal Hossain, a “B Category” victim from Mymensingh, said he has submitted all necessary documents to receive aid for a poultry farm but is suffering due to the delay.
JSSF CEO Kamal Akbar said they lack funds in the rehabilitation programme as they are running it with only Tk45 lakh received from a US-based nonprofit organisation called Millennium Foundation.
Fraudulent claims, ‘malpractices’ hamper support programme
While the JSSF has already been struggling to provide support to all the uprising victims, some false claims from fraudsters have complicated the process.
Responding to the issue, the foundation’s Head of Public Relations and Media, Md Zahid Hossain, said all martyr families are verified through the Management Information System (MIS) and the official government gazette before being granted financial benefits.
For injured persons, applications are carefully verified and funds are disbursed through Sonali Bank pay orders, bKash or, in some cases, cash payments.
The foundation also provides equipment such as wheelchairs and walking sticks directly to injured individuals.
Currently, they are running all operations, including office rent and salaries for around 40 staff members, using Tk3 crore provided by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Meanwhile, a case has been filed against 13 people, including 10 officials of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, for allegedly torturing a man and his wife during interrogation at the foundation’s office on 14 October.
What stakeholders and experts say
Tales of July, an organisation of volunteers, has been working with the families of martyrs and the injured since the days of July Uprising.
Israfil Akond Rudro, chief executive of Tales of July, said this government sits on the blood of martyrs, but even near the end of its term, it has failed to disburse an adequate amount of money to assist the uprising victims.
“It is deeply disappointing. They remember the martyrs in ceremonies but do not allocate money for the ‘July fighters’. The chief adviser has been travelling to different countries, unnecessarily spending a huge amount of public money. The government is constructing the July Memorial at the Osmani Uddyan at a cost of Tk46.4 crore, while the victims of the uprising are struggling for assistance due to a lack of funds. This is unfortunate and completely unacceptable,” he added.
Senior journalist Masood Kamal, who supported the July uprising and criticised the Sheikh Hasina government, said, “I don’t think the government or the people working in the foundation have much genuine intention to work for the July victims. Those who have no respect for the martyrs’ sacrifice have been appointed to both the places. That is why this situation has emerged.”