Dead on the voter list, so disability allowance closed for four years!

Living man declared dead, losing disability benefits!

Mohammad Rustom Ali Mir, a 78-year-old physically disabled man from Ashfordi village in Char Yosordi union of Nagarkanda upazila in Faridpur, is in dire straits. Despite having a national identity card (NID), he has been declared dead in the voter list.

As a result, he is now considered legally deceased, even though he is still alive. This has caused him immense hardship. His disability benefits have been discontinued, and he is now barred from accessing all government benefits. He is even unable to travel to India for medical treatment.

Rustom Ali Mir’s daughter, Mosa. Roksana, has filed a written complaint with the Nagarkanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) detailing the ordeal.

The Allegation:

The complaint alleges that in 2019, during the voter list update, local school teacher Salauddin Munshi and Rustom Ali Mir’s neighbor, Kudduus Ali Mir, conspired to declare Rustom Ali Mir dead in the voter list in exchange for money. The duo allegedly did this to cancel Rustom Ali Mir’s disability benefits and have them transferred to someone else.

School Teacher’s Admission:

School teacher Salauddin Munshi has admitted to declaring Rustom Ali Mir dead, claiming he did so based on information provided by Kudduus Ali Mir. Munshi submitted a form to the Nagarkanda Upazila Election Office declaring Rustom Ali Mir deceased.

Neighbor’s Denial:

However, Kudduus Ali Mir has denied knowing school teacher Salauddin Munshi or providing him with any information about Rustom Ali Mir. He claims to have never met Munshi and never discussed Rustom Ali Mir’s status with him.

Election Official’s Statement:

Nagarkanda Upazila Election Officer Md. Abu Talib has attributed the incident to negligence on the part of the field-level data collector.

UNO’s Response:

Nagarkanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Kafi Bin Kabir has acknowledged receiving a written complaint from Rustom Ali Mir’s daughter regarding the matter. He has formed a committee to thoroughly investigate the incident.

UNO Kabir stated that appropriate action will be taken upon receiving the investigation report. If the allegations are found to be true, Rustom Ali Mir’s benefits will be reinstated, and those responsible will face legal consequences.

Additional Information:

• The incident highlights the importance of accurate data management and the need for stringent verification procedures in maintaining voter lists and other official records.
• The plight of Rustom Ali Mir underscores the vulnerability of marginalized individuals to bureaucratic errors and the need for effective grievance redress mechanisms.