Families caught in bureaucratic tangle

Partha Roy Chowdhury, a sub-inspector of Itna Police Station in Kishoreganj, was severely injured in a road accident on the way to a Khagrachhari court for testimony on October 14, 2020.

Three days later, Partha succumbed to his injuries while being treated at a hospital. Two months later, his family claimed the government "compensation" given to the Kishoreganj district deputy commissioner (DC) for disbursement on January 14, 2021.

"Two years have passed since then. We are yet to get the compensation. I have talked with the DC office in Kishoreganj many times but to no avail," Partha's wife Aparna Roy Chowdhury told The Daily Star recently.

Aparna is currently living at her husband's residence in Rangamati with her two sons -- Priyotosh Roy Chowdhury, 14, an SSC examinee, and Poritosh Roy Chowdhury, 10, a fourth-grader.

The DC office holds monthly meetings regarding the compensation for all government officials, including those in the police force. As a result, the files remain stuck in a serial.

"It's becoming increasingly harder to support my family. It'd be easier for us if we get the compensation," said Aparna.

This is not an isolated case. At least 179 police families did not get compensation in due time due to bureaucratic complications.

The family of a deceased police official recently filed an application under the financial grant payment policy for Death and Disability of Government Servants, 2020 (Amendment) law. It states that the family of a government official will get Tk 8 lakh if the official dies on duty. The amount is Tk 4 lakh in case of severe injuries.

Sources said the application was first sent to the office of the superintendent of police for verification. From there, it was sent to the DC office within the next 15 days.

However, the DC office made no dealings with the family.

The DC office holds monthly meetings regarding the compensation for all government officials, including those in the police force. As a result, the files remain stuck in a serial.

Besides, often the common funds fall short while compensating eight to 10 officials from all sectors simultaneously, resulting in the delay, according to sources.

Police Headquarters (PHQ) database shows that at least 620 officials of Bangladesh Police were killed while in service in the last three years since January 2020.

As per the financial grant payment policy, family members of 568 deceased officials of the force, who perished while discharging duty, have sent applications to the divisional commissioner or district DC for compensation in the last three years since October 2020 to date.

However, the applications of only 389 families have been approved so far. The rest of the 179 families still await their turn, according to the PHQ data.

Police high officials said before September 2020, approval and disbursement of the compensation were under the jurisdiction of PHQ.

From January 2018 to September 2018, families of around 549 officials of the force who died while on duty applied to PHQ for compensation, and all of them got the benefits in due time, as shown in the database.

PHQ mentioned that they used to discuss the submitted application by holding a special meeting each month, which facilitated the disbursement of the compensation on time.

The delays started occurring after the process went under the jurisdiction of the divisional commissioner and district deputy commissioner, they claimed.

Meanwhile, the PHQ welfare wing sent an application to the home ministry on December 24 last year, requesting to get back the authority to pay the grant.

Md Nazmul Islam, assistant inspector general of PHQ, told The Daily Star that working for the police force is a risky job, and many officials get killed every year while discharging duty.

"Earlier, the 'economic code' to pay compensation to the deceased family was under the authority of PHQ, and we used to disburse the compensations in the fastest time," he said.

"If we get back the authority again, then the families of the deceased will receive the compensation quickly," added Nazmul.

Abul Fazal Mir, joint secretary (police-1 branch) of the home ministry's public security division, said they have received the application from the PHQ.

"The Ministry of Public Administration is responsible for the 'economic code'. We are working on it and it is under process," he added.