Umama Fatema on Facebook Live: July Turned into a ‘Money-Making Machine

Umama Fatema, the former spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, described her involvement with the platform as a “tragic” chapter in her life during a Facebook Live session on her verified account on Sunday night. In the two-hour-and-24-minute live broadcast, she detailed her experiences, from joining the movement to her eventual departure, shedding light on various incidents and allegations.

Fatema revealed that the July uprising was a significant experience, but she was shocked to discover how the movement’s identity was exploited for financial gain. “I never imagined that this could be used to make money. Why on earth would I turn it into a money-making machine? Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened, and it was done on a very common and regular basis,” she said.

She further alleged that the misuse of the “coordinator” title began immediately after the August 5 uprising. “From the morning after August 5, I saw people using the coordinator identity to seize control of various places. I was stunned. Just yesterday, people were reluctant to identify as coordinators, and now they were extorting and seizing properties under that title. It felt like a ‘Coordinator Force’ was being formed, akin to the Rakkhi Bahini,” she remarked. Fatema expressed her initial belief that the platform should have been decentralized and made more inclusive, but her suggestions led to conflicts with others, turning many against her.

Fatema, who was the member secretary of the Dhaka University branch of the Student Federation during the July uprising, resigned from that organization afterward. She was later approached by members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and appointed as their spokesperson in October of the previous year. However, she described her time with the platform as isolating and stressful. “All decisions were made at Hair Road (advisers’ residence) and simply implemented. I felt disconnected from the entire process. It was chaotic, and I went through months of stress,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. She also highlighted allegations of extortion, nepotism, and favoritism within the movement, particularly in regions like Chattogram. “The issues were so widespread that addressing them would have exposed many people. There are stories from many districts like this,” she added. Fatema noted that the platform’s planned “July Declaration” on December 31 was abruptly announced and later canceled, leaving her frustrated. By mid-January, she learned that some members were forming a political party, a move she was uninterested in joining. By late January, she decided to leave the platform. In February, some members approached her to rebuild the platform, but she was later accused of trying to “seize control” of it. “I always saw it as a responsibility, not something valuable to me. For some, it was valuable because it gave them access to government offices like the DC and SP,” she said. Fatema emphasized that anyone with “minimum self-respect” would struggle to stay with the platform. “Being part of this was a tragic event in my life. It’s painful to see people who fought in July stoop to such cheap actions,” she said, expressing regret over the time she spent with the movement.

Reflecting on her role as spokesperson, Fatema said she was unaware of the extent of exploitation before taking the position. “I discovered that people were engaging in tender businesses, lobbying, and appointments in various places. I had no idea about these things before becoming the spokesperson,” she said. She firmly denied allegations of personal financial gain, stating, “Some say I earned billions. I come from a well-off family, and I’ve never needed to use this identity for scholarships or financial gain. Thankfully, my family supports me as a human being and wants me to do something good for the country, not as a money-making machine.”