Better treatment, quick release of requested funds

Staff correspondent

Thursday, Nov. 14 2024 00:00 Last updated on: Thursday, Nov 14 2024 00:10

Photo: Anisur Rahman

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Photo: Anisur Rahman

Some lay down in front of her vehicle while others climbed into it.

Protocol officers chased them away during the protests, they claimed.

In response to the tense situation, the health advisor left in another vehicle. The British High Commissioner had to leave the hospital in another car.

Injured protesters – some with bandages on their hands, legs or eyes, and others in wheelchairs or on crutches – then left the hospital and blocked the adjacent road.

They stated that they would not clear the road until the Health Counselor met everyone.

They also expressed their frustration at not getting the promised compensation of Tk 100,000 each.

Confirming the incident, Ziaul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tejgaon Division, said the councilor drove away safely and her car was not damaged.

Meanwhile, hospital authorities said those injured in the July riot were being given the highest priority. Special wards and food were designated for them.

Shahidul Islam, 19, a protester who was wounded by bullets and is now being treated on the second floor of the hospital, said the counselor and others arrived at the hospital and went to the third floor, where they spoke to only a few of the injured .

“There are at least 42 of us receiving treatment on the second floor, but the counselor was leaving the hospital without visiting us.”

Hearing the news, the other injured protesters from July who are being treated at nearby hospitals also joined the protests.

At one point, the soldiers stationed near the hospital asked them to return to the hospital.

However, Dr Masum, seated in a wheelchair, said they would not leave until the health adviser returned to meet them.

“After three long months, she finally comes here, but she chooses to neglect us.”

Expressing his grievances, Masum said, “She has become an advisor for our blood. Many of us have not yet received the promised compensation from the July Foundation”.

Al Miraj, an MBA student at IUBAT, was injured in both eyes while protesting in Kakrail on the afternoon of July 19.

Since then, he received treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital. “The doctors said that the treatment for my right eye is not available in the country. I took to the streets to demand better treatment.”

As of filing this report around 10:00 p.m., protesters were still on the road.

Meanwhile, Hasnat Abdullah, the organizer of the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement, which led the July riot, went to the site to meet the protesters.

He said to them, “Give me a little time to solve the problem for you. Trust me”.

However, the protesters reiterated that they will not leave until the health advisor comes to meet them in an hour.

Currently, 84 protestors injured in the riot are being treated at NITOR. Two separate wards are dedicated for them — one on level 2 and another on level 3, according to hospital officials.

So far, 21 people have had their hands and feet amputated, while six patients have died.

Shahin Alam, a Class IX student who was injured on August 5 and is receiving treatment at NITOR, also protested yesterday.

“I was shot in the left leg and had four surgeries at NITOR. The doctor told me to come back after nine months. I don’t think I’m getting proper treatment here.”

Mr Badiuzzaman, deputy director of NITOR, said medical teams from China and Thailand have visited them and there is a team from the UK working to assess their treatment. Until yesterday, 15 people were operated on.

“Furthermore, foreign medical teams have expressed great satisfaction with our medical procedures. But it will take a long time for the condition of the patients to improve, especially those with nerve damage… Any claim that we are not giving adequate treatment is false. .”

Regarding those who did not receive compensation from the July Foundation, he said: “As far as we know, there were some problems with the documents of some of the patients, which is why they have not received the money yet.”