Struggle of an allowance deprived FF

Sixty-five-year-old Portap Chandra Roy in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila is waiting for over four decades to get his montly allowance as a freedom fighter (FF) while another man using the same serial number in Rangpur's Gangachara upazila is enjoying the benefits.

Landless Protap, son of late Tarini Kanta Roy of Kazirchawra village, is now passing days in hardship as he earns very little by selling  spice items at people's doorsteps.

Moreover, he has to bear the treatment expenditure of his ailing wife Bimala Rani, 55, with the daily income of Tk 150 to Tk 200.

Every morning, Protap goes out of his house on a bicycle and visits people's homes for selling his products. Sometimes he has to ride the bicycle about 20 to 30 km, roving eight villages every day.

“I have no land and my only asset is a bicycle and a hut erected on my brother's land,” Protap said, adding that he had to sell his homestead on two decimals of land during his daughter's marriage.

“I joined the country's Liberation War in 1971 when I was only 18 years old. I took training in India and later joined the fellow freedom fighters under Sector 6 while my serial No is 205944,” Protap said, adding that he got the recognition only on paper, but is yet to avail any benefits.

“I heard many stories of the war from my husband,” Bimala said, adding that although she has been suffering from different physical complications for the last 15 years, she is yet to receive proper treatment due to financial crisis.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jayashree Rani Roy said during primary enquiry they came to know that another Protap Chandra Roy, son of late Tarini Kanta Roy in Rangpur's Gangachara upazila, has been enjoying the government allowance under the same serial No 205944.

“I have collected documents from both the Protaps and primarily assumed that the one from Lalmonirhat might have been deprived of the facilities meant for freedom fighters," the UNO added.