Living with seven bullets: Sujon's months of excruciating pain

Before the revolution, Sujon was the sole breadwinner for his family. Now he relies on others for basic mobility and faces a terrible reality as his family falls deeper into poverty and insecurity

October 30, 2024, 1:20 PM

Last modified: October 30, 2024, 1:39 PM

Once the sole breadwinner for his family, Sujon now depends on others for basic mobility. He faces a terrible reality as his family falls deeper into poverty and insecurity. Photos: TBS

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Once the sole breadwinner for his family, Sujon now depends on others for basic mobility. He faces a terrible reality as his family falls deeper into poverty and insecurity. Photos: TBS

It has been three months since Khaled Mahmud Sujon, a 25-year-old from Lakshmipur, was shot while participating in an anti-discrimination student movement on August 4.

To this day, seven bullets are still lodged in his body, causing excruciating pain and leaving him paralyzed on the left side.

Once the sole breadwinner for his family, Sujon now depends on others for basic mobility. He faces a terrible reality as his family falls deeper into poverty and insecurity.

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Sujon’s family consists of his mother, his father and an older brother – both with mental health problems – and a younger sibling.

Since Sujon’s injury, their struggle has only intensified, without any form of steady income to support his treatment or their daily needs.

Survival with seven bullets

When visiting Sujon’s house, a grim reality unfolds.

Seven bullets still rest in different parts of his body: one in his neck, two in his chest, three in his right arm and one under his ear.

Only two of the original nine bullets have been removed.

Doctors have told the family that removing the remaining bullets in Bangladesh is impossible and may require treatment abroad.

“The bullets have left me unable to work or even move without help. I constantly worry about what will happen to my family,” says Sujon.

Sujon with his father and older brother

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Sujon with his father and older brother

Recounting the extent of the family’s struggle, a relative, Mubarak Hossain, says: “Sujon has no means to support the family or pay for his medical treatment. Now even Sujon’s younger brother, who is in Grade 8, may have to leave school.”

Sujon remembers the day of the protest vividly.

Attracted by social media posts, he joined the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Madam Bridge in Lakshmipur on August 4 afternoon. When the protest reached the house of the former upazila chairman, it turned tragic as bullets rained from above.

Sujon recalls: “AKM Salahuddin Tipu, the local leader of the Jubo League, and chairman of the upazila, fired directly from the roof. Hundreds were injured; I was hit nine times and collapsed immediately.”

Four protesters died that day and hundreds, including Sujon, were injured.

Fellow protesters initially took Sujon to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital.

Relatives managed to transfer him from hospital due to the threat of further attacks by ruling party members.

He was taken to a private hospital in Noakhali, but they could not admit him due to gunshot wounds.

Only two of the original nine bullets have been removed

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Only two of the original nine bullets have been removed

He was eventually taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors removed a bullet from his liver.

After 18 days there, Sujon was transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where surgeons removed another bullet from his arm.

However, CMH doctors informed the family that they could not remove the remaining bullets and suggested that he may need medical care abroad.

Seven bullets still rest in different parts of his body: one in his neck, two in his chest, three in his right arm and one under his ear.