Misappropriation of funds intended for the victims and families affected by the July Uprising continues to plague the July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation. Recently, a fraud ring targeting the foundation has come under scrutiny, with one of its alleged members—Dilshad Afrin, a representative of the Narayanganj Fatullah unit of the National Citizens’ Committee—being handed over to the police by the organization itself.

Afrin allegedly collected significant sums of money from individuals by promising to secure financial aid from the foundation. Evidence of her deception was reportedly found in call recordings and WhatsApp messages. On April 8, following these revelations, she was expelled from the Citizens’ Committee and subsequently arrested by police at Ramna Police Station for embezzling foundation funds.

According to Officer-in-Charge Golam Faruq of Ramna Police Station, Afrin took amounts ranging from BDT 20,000 to BDT 100,000 from victims’ families under false pretenses. The Citizens’ Committee and foundation officials detained her before handing her over to law enforcement.

Former central joint secretary of the committee, Al Amin, confirmed that Afrin was expelled due to verified allegations of financial fraud involving the foundation. Meanwhile, Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, the foundation’s CEO, warned that strict action would be taken against any attempt to exploit funds meant for the wounded and bereaved families of the July Uprising. He stressed that the foundation remains vigilant and committed to thoroughly verifying legitimate recipients.