Man falsely enlists father as freedom fighter, collects allowance for 9 years

A man who has been collecting Freedom Fighters' Allowance -- by enlisting his late father as a freedom fighter -- was accused by his brothers of falsely listing their father as a freedom fighter. 

The accused Md Shahin has been collecting Freedom Fighters' Allowance since October 10 of 2011, alleged Shahin's brothers Yasin and Ibrahim and his nephew Anowar Hossain. 

The  father is Abdul Kader who passed away on August 28, 1996.

The incident came to light when Ambia Khatun, the ninety years old mother of Shahin, was knocking door to door for an Old-age Allowance card.

When she finally reached the Union Parishad office to apply for the Old-age allowance card, the authorities found that her son Shahin had been collecting Freedom Fighter's Allowance in her name by enlisting Abdul Kader as a freedom fighter.

The family alleged that Shahin, during his time working at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, had falsely enlisted many as freedom fighters with fake documents.

“He gained lakhs of money through his corruption. When we raised our voices against him, he filed cases against us over different familial matters. Recently he threatened to file a case under the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act," said Shahin's nephew Anowar Hossain.

On Monday, in Comilla’s Debidwar upazila’s Premu village, Ambia along with her family members formed a human chain and protested Shahin's corruption in front of the Premu Super Market.

Denying the allegations, Shahin said he had been framed in the incident by his brothers. He avoided the question, when asked if he is collecting Freedom Fighter's Allowance on behalf of his mother.

“They formed the human chain to frame me into the incident out of family rivalry. I am innocent,” said Shahin.

Ambia Khatun said: "My husband is not a freedom fighter. I didn’t know anything about Shahin collecting allowances. I am told that Shahin enlisted my husband as a freedom fighter."

Contacted, Freedom Fighter Commander of Debidwar Muktijodhha Sangsad, Moynal Hossain said: “We know no such Abdul Kader (Shahin's father) who participated in the liberation war. To my knowledge he was not a freedom fighter.”

Debidwar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rakib Hasan said Shahin's family filed a complaint in connection with falsely enlisting Abdul Kader as a freedom fighter. "The complaint has been sent to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for investigation."