Injured in Violent Incidents, Branded ‘July Fighters’: How They Secured Overseas Treatment at State Expense, Allowances and Other Benefits Worth Tk 8 Million

❐ Staff Reporter

A sensational and controversial incident has arisen in Madaripur over the transparency of the inclusion in the government gazette of those injured and killed in the political riots of July-August 2024.

There is now a stir in the entire district over how a young man, injured in a self-made bomb explosion in his hand during a clash for local supremacy on August 8, 2024, 3 days after the political change on August 5, was listed in the government gazette as a ‘July fighter’ and received medical facilities worth 8 million taka at state expense in Thailand.

The injured youth is named Md. Raihan. He is the son of Badsha Howlader and Zaheda Begum of Char Thengamara village in Kalkini municipality of Madaripur. He is better known as ‘Bomb Raihan’ to the locals due to allegations of terrorism and cocktail-bomb related incidents in the area.

Locals said he used to make bombs himself, sell them, and use them in various local riots.

According to local people and eyewitnesses, a bloody clash took place between two local parties at Char Thengamara in Kalkini Upazila of Madaripur on August 8, 2024. At that time, a bomb in Raihan’s hand exploded after being hit by a brick thrown by the opponent, seriously injuring his hand and body.

He was rescued and admitted to the National Orthopaedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (Nitore/Pangu Hospital) in the capital soon after the incident. A look at the hospital admission documents shows that he was admitted to Nitore on August 8th.

Several residents, including Jahangir Molla, a resident of Dakshin Rajdi village, and local Shahin, expressed their anger and said, “This was completely a family and political dispute between two local parties. Raihan himself was injured while carrying out the bomb attack. Yet today he is gazetted as a July protestor! This is very sad.”

Locals also said that after being gazetted, his family has received a large amount of grants from the government. They are also receiving various benefits, including a monthly allowance.

When media workers went to investigate the incident, Boma Raihan’s family also made immoral offers to them. Various videos have shown that Raihan’s family tried to put money in the pockets of the journalists.

Raihan’s family initially claimed that Raihan was injured in a clash with police and Chhatra League on the banks of Shakuni Lake in Madaripur city on August 5, 2024.

However, Kamrul Hasan, member secretary of Madaripur District Chhatra Dal and an active activist of the July Movement, clarified, “There was no clash with the Chhatra League or the police in the Shakuni Lake area of ​​Madaripur on August 5. Raihan was not present at any of the movement’s programs.”

Raihan’s mother, Zaheda Begum, later admitted to the local clashes on August 8, when she was asked why she was admitted to the hospital on August 8 if she was injured on August 5.

Raihan’s father, Badsha Howlader, also admitted to the incident and said that they did not know the details of how and through what process his son got on the list of the July Movement and got the opportunity to receive treatment abroad.

The investigation revealed that after the final vetting and gazette inclusion by the Ministry of Health, Raihan was sent to Thailand for advanced treatment at government expense. About 8 million taka was spent from the government treasury for his treatment there. Not only that, but since he was gazetted, he is currently also drawing regular government allowances.

Locals have raised questions about how such a huge fraud could have happened. The lack of coordination among district and upazila level officials involved in the verification process is clear:

Hafez Hasibullah, one of the members of the verification committee, said, “The district committee signed the document based on the information sent from the upazila. In addition, the investigation reports of the intelligence agencies (NSI, DGFI, DSB, etc.) were also attached.”

Shariful Abedin Kamal, the civil surgeon of Madaripur and member secretary of the verification committee, claimed that the matter was uploaded online from Dhaka. We only signed the papers at the field level.

Since the matter came to light, the accused Md. Raihan alias Boma Raihan has left the area and has been absconding. Despite repeated attempts, it has not been possible to contact him on his mobile phone.

Regarding the incident, Kalkini Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kishore Kumar Das said that he has just joined the upazila. He assured that the matter will be taken seriously and a prompt investigation will be conducted to find out the truth.