Habibul Badsha, a 17-year-old currently receiving treatment in the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, was severely injured during an anti-discrimination protest. Initially admitted to a cabin, he was transferred to a special ward two days ago, which has been designated for treating protest-related injuries.
Like Habibul, more than 300 others who were seriously injured during protests remain hospitalized across various facilities. According to the Ministry of Health, expert medical teams from the UK and China have arrived in Dhaka to assist in their treatment, particularly those with severe injuries to their eyes. Specialized eye doctors are also expected to arrive soon.
On Sunday morning, Habibul spoke to reporters. He is originally from Sylhet, where he worked during the day and attended school at night, studying in the 10th grade. In mid-July, he was visiting his aunt’s house in the Chittagong Road area of Narayanganj. On July 20, at around 5 PM, he was injured by police gunfire during a protest involving students and citizens.
Habibul recalls being with three others during the protest, one of whom was killed by the gunfire. The bullet shattered the bone in his left leg. He initially sought treatment at a private hospital. A few days after the fall of the Awami League government, he learned that injured protesters were entitled to free medical care. On August 23, he contacted Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was admitted there.
Habibul mentioned that his family has not had to bear any medical expenses, with all medicine and tests covered by the hospital. However, they still need to purchase food for his grandmother, who is accompanying him. Although he hasn’t received any financial assistance from the government yet, he remains unsure of how to access it.
The director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Brigadier General Md. Asaduzzaman, reported that as of yesterday, 39 seriously injured patients from the protests were still admitted to the hospital.
Severely Injured Remain Hospitalized
Data from the Ministry of Health reveals that over 21,800 people were injured nationwide during the violent protests in July and August. Among these, 525 sustained serious injuries, such as potential loss of limbs or other severe physical damage.
The highest number of hospitalized patients are currently at the Combined Military Hospital, where 135 individuals are receiving treatment. Other hospitals with significant numbers include the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Pangu Hospital) with 67 patients, the National Institute of Ophthalmology with 43, Dhaka Medical College Hospital with 39, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University with 28, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital with 9, the National Institute of Neurosciences with 7, and Kurmitola General Hospital with 4 patients. According to hospital officials, the cost of treatment, including surgeries, is being fully covered for all patients.
Abdullah Ahmed, an 18-year-old currently undergoing treatment at Pangu Hospital, is one such patient. He and his father, Shahadat Hossain Mollah, shared their story. On August 4, Abdullah was hit by a police vehicle near the BRTA office in Mirpur. Fearing inadequate treatment in Dhaka, Shahadat took his injured son back to their home in Shibchar, Madaripur, where Abdullah was treated at a private hospital. On August 7, Abdullah was admitted to Pangu Hospital.
Shahadat reported that Abdullah has undergone three surgeries on his leg, requiring a significant amount of medication. Fortunately, the hospital’s social welfare department has covered all expenses, sparing the family from any financial burden.
The reporter spoke with six other patients and their families at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Pangu Hospital. They all confirmed that they did not have to bear any treatment costs. However, the extended hospital stays have caused financial strain for some families.
Doctors at Pangu Hospital explained that injuries involving both broken bones and tissue damage require a longer recovery time. Initially, the wounds must heal before any work on the broken bones can proceed, often necessitating multiple surgeries.
Foreign Medical Aid Arrives
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that a team of 10 specialist doctors from China arrived in Dhaka yesterday to assess patients at various hospitals, including Pangu Hospital. If needed, larger medical teams may be deployed to Bangladesh.
Additionally, in collaboration with the U.S.-based Sewa Foundation, plans are underway to bring specialist doctors from Nepal to treat patients with eye injuries. These doctors are expected to perform corneal transplants. Professor Abul Khayer, the director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology, told Prothom Alo that they held an online meeting with the Nepalese doctors on Sunday and estimated that around 40 corneal transplants will be required. Preparations are ongoing to bring the specialists to Bangladesh as soon as possible.
Complaints from Some Injured Protesters
On September 19, around 1 PM, a small group of 10-12 people gathered near Gate 1 of the Secretariat. Upon inquiry, it was learned that they had all been injured during the protests in July and August and were there to raise concerns about not receiving proper or complete treatment. They intended to submit their grievances to the interim government’s Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Two days later, on September 21, the group, now joined by 50-60 more injured individuals, gathered outside Dr. Yunus’s official residence. Eventually, a delegation of five representatives met with Dr. Yunus.
One of the delegates was Saifuddin Muhammad Emdad, a student at Alia Madrasa in Bakshibazar, Dhaka, and a native of Chittagong. On August 5, police fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd near the Chittagong Police Lines, injuring many, including Emdad. He sustained injuries to his head, face, and eyes and has since been treated at five different hospitals in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Emdad shared with Prothom Alo that many injured protesters in July did not receive timely or adequate care, leading to ongoing health issues. He emphasized that the purpose of their meeting with the Chief Advisor was to ensure that these individuals receive complete treatment.
The Health Subcommittee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement continues to advocate for the proper treatment of injured protesters. Abdul Munim, a member of the subcommittee, stated that while he was not aware of the recent meeting with the Chief Advisor, their organization remains committed to ensuring that all injured individuals receive the care they need.
Source: Prothom Alo
