Old man struggles to prove he's alive after mistaken death record in Netrakona

A 90-year-old man in Durgapur Upazila of Netrakona has been declared dead in official records despite being alive, forcing him to visit government offices to prove his existence after his old-age allowance was suspended.

Abdul Majid, a resident of Mou village under Chandigar Union, had been receiving the allowance for nearly two decades. However, payments were abruptly stopped about 18 months ago. Upon inquiry, he discovered that he had been listed as deceased in government documents.

“I used the allowance to buy medicine and manage daily expenses. For the past year and a half, I have received nothing. Being declared dead while alive is the biggest suffering,” Majid said.

His son, Abul Bashar, said they approached the Upazila Social Services Office but have yet to receive a solution despite repeated visits.

Officials said the error stemmed from an updated list sent by the Union Parishad, which included a death certificate stating Majid had died in April 2024. Based on that, his allowance was reassigned to another person.

However, local UP member Saidul Islam denied listing Majid as deceased during data updates. Upazila Social Services Officer Md. Masud Talukder said the matter is being reverified and steps are underway to restore the allowance.

Locals have described the incident as a serious administrative lapse, highlighting the hardship caused by errors in official records.