This is not just another protest story. This is not a tale of a victim fighting for justice. This is a story of a man, a movement, and a mystery that raises more questions than answers. A story that exposes how fiction was passed off as fact, how institutions were manipulated, and how a student became the face of an elaborate fraud.
Meet Saifuddin Mohammad Emdad. Twenty-three years old. A student of Alim at a madrasa in Dhaka. Today, he is officially recognised as a “Category-A July Warrior,” someone who was allegedly critically injured during the political unrest of July-August 2024. He’s entitled to cash grants, a monthly allowance, and public sympathy. There’s only one problem. His story doesn’t add up.
According to court records, Saifuddin was shot in Dhaka on August 4. But in another case—filed by Saifuddin himself—he was shot in Chittagong. Also on August 4. And again on August 5. Two cities. One man. The same injuries. The same eye. And all within 48 hours. What is this—a superhero movie? A teleportation experiment?
Let’s begin with the case filed in Dhaka. It was filed by MA Hashem Raju, a former BNP student leader and self-styled human rights activist. He claimed he witnessed Saifuddin being shot near the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka. He accused 201 people—an entire gallery of public figures, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, senior ministers, journalists, professors, actors, even a retired Supreme Court judge. A courtroom drama straight out of a political thriller.
But Saifuddin had more to say. Ten months later, he filed another case. This time in Chittagong. The version here was equally dramatic. He claimed he was shot by Awami League-backed goons during protests on August 4. And again on August 5. The injuries? To the head, eye, legs, chest—you name it. The accused? Another long list featuring political leaders, media professionals, and businessmen.
Here’s where things start to crumble. The two versions of events don’t just conflict—they completely contradict each other. Different locations. Different timelines. Different lists of accused. Even the addresses Saifuddin provided in each case are different. One lists him as living in Dhaka, the other in Chittagong.
Yet despite all this, he made it to the government’s list of “July Warriors.” Not because of verified medical records—those are still missing. Not because of police verification—there was none. But because a movement needed martyrs. And Saifuddin, with his bandaged eye and his photo ops with Yunus-backed politicians, fit the bill.
Let’s talk about those benefits. A one-time payout of Tk5 lakh. A monthly allowance of Tk20,000. All taxpayer money. But now, the government has confirmed that over 70 individuals have used fake papers to claim the same benefits. And that number could rise to 1,500. This isn’t just fraud. This is a factory of fake martyrs.
Legally, filing false information with the police or courts is a crime. Punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both. The law even goes further—shielding a known offender, or aiding them to escape justice, is a punishable offence under Bangladesh’s Penal Code. And yet, here we are. A man claims he was shot in two places at once and gets away with state benefits.
But it’s not just about Saifuddin. It’s about the people he and his allies have targeted. Look at the names dragged into this mess. Renowned professors like Zafar Iqbal and Akhtaruzzaman. Acclaimed actors like Chanchal Chowdhury, Ferdous, and Meher Afroz Shaon. Respected journalists like Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babu. Many of them have been harassed. Some are in jail. Others have been attacked. Their crime? Supporting the government. Expressing views. Posting on social media.
This isn’t a case. It’s a witch hunt.
And behind this entire circus is a larger force. The so-called “Yunus Gang,” a circle of elite influencers rallying behind Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, who, according to reports, is increasingly seen as the symbolic head of a parallel power network, keen on disrupting the political order. Saifuddin was seen attending events with Yunus. Posing for photographs. Repeating talking points. Coincidence?
Prothom Alo, in an October report, painted him as a young activist hounded by the state. The story, of course, made headlines. He gave interviews. Spoke at forums. Appeared in sunglasses and wheelchairs. Asked for public donations. Gave emotional speeches about selling family jewellery for treatment. And all the while, key questions remained unanswered.
Why did he file two contradictory cases? Why were his medical reports never submitted? Why did the police register the cases without verification? Why are government critics being named without proof?
This is not how justice works. This is how justice is hijacked.
And yet, Saifuddin continues to present himself as a victim. A martyr. A warrior of truth. But what we are looking at is possibly the biggest protest-related fraud in recent history. A movement fuelled not by facts, but by fabrications.
This story is no longer about one student. It’s about how public institutions were manipulated. How the politics of vengeance hijacked the politics of protest. How victimhood became a tool, not for justice—but for power.
Saifuddin didn’t just lose his eye. He may have lost his credibility. And if the state doesn’t act now, it’s the truth that will go completely blind.
I’m Palki Sharma, and this—was your reality check.
