Injured demonstrators demand support | Injured protesters retreat after four advisors meet with them | Insurance of the treatment fund for demonstrators

A group of people injured during the mass uprising of July and August who were protesting for better treatment agreed to return to their respective hospitals with assurances that their demands would be met.

The development came after four advisers of the interim government – legal affairs adviser Asif Nazrul, fisheries and animal husbandry adviser Farida Akhter, local government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and adviser Mahfuj Alam – resigned from the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute. NITOR), where the injured held their protest at 2:30 am, assuring them of proper treatment and rehabilitation.

Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Health Advisor, also accompanied them.

Around yesterday afternoon, more than 50 people injured in the riot, who were undergoing treatment at NITOR in the Agargaon area of ​​the capital and the adjoining National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, launched the protest by blocking the road in front of NITOR.

They demanded proper treatment and quick release of funds from July Smriti Foundation for all victims.

As their protest continued late into the night, defying law enforcement officials, Hasnat Abdullah, chairman of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, which spearheaded the July uprising, and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snachtigho, general secretary of the July Smriti Foundation and brother of murdered student protester Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho went there to calm the protesters.

Despite their promises and assurances, the demonstrators refused to end their protest.

At one point they demanded that four advisors come to them and assure them that they would meet their demands.

According to Prothom Alo, the advisors who went there to respond to the call admitted the government’s mistakes and expressed their regret to the protesters.

They said a meeting with a delegation of the injured will be held at the secretariat today at 2pm to discuss the demands.

They also announced that a roadmap for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured will be prepared and implemented by December, the leading Bangla daily said.

Then the protesters agreed to return to their respective hospitals. The consultants were seen accompanying them to their hospital beds.

The four advisors left the scene around 4:15 p.m.

The protests began after health adviser Nurjahan Begum, accompanied by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, went to the hospital to visit them around 11:30 p.m.

As the two left the hospital after talking to some patients, the other injured victims gathered outside and blocked the consultant’s car on the hospital grounds, witnesses said.

Some lay in front of the vehicle, others climbed onto it.

The protocol officers pushed them away during the protests, they alleged.

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

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

They stated that they would not clear the road until the health advisor had met everyone. They also expressed frustration over not receiving the promised compensation of Tk 100,000 each.

Ziaul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tejgaon Division, confirmed the incident and said the consultant left safely and her car was not damaged.

Meanwhile, hospital authorities said the wounded were given top priority during the July uprising. Special departments and food have been designated for them.

Shahidul Islam, 19, a protester who was injured 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 met only a few of those present. spoke. injured.

“There are at least 42 of us being treated on the second floor, but the consultant left the hospital without visiting us.”

Upon hearing the news, the other injured protesters from July, who are being treated in nearby hospitals, also joined the protests.

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

However, Md Masum, sitting in a wheelchair, said they would not leave until the health advisor returned to meet them. “After three long months, she finally comes here, but she decides to neglect us.”

Expressing his grievances, Masum said, “She became a consultant for our blood. Many of us have yet to receive the promised compensation from the July Foundation.”

Al Miraj, an MBA student from IUBAT, was injured in both eyes during a protest in Kakrail on the afternoon of July 19.

Since then he has been receiving treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital. “Doctors have said that treatment for my right eye is not available in the country. We took to the streets to demand better treatment.”

Currently, 84 injured insurgency protesters are being treated at NITOR. According to hospital officials, two separate wards have been set up for them: one at Level 2 and one at Level 3.

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

Shahin Alam, a ninth-grade student who was injured and treated at NITOR on August 5, also protested yesterday.

“I was shot in my left leg and underwent four operations in NITOR. The doctor told me to come back after nine months. I don’t think I am getting proper treatment here.”

Md Badiuzzaman, deputy director of NITOR, said medical teams from China and Thailand have visited them, and there is a team from Britain working to assess their treatment. Until yesterday, 15 people have undergone operations.

“In addition, the foreign medical teams have expressed great satisfaction with our medical procedures. But it will take a long time for the patients’ condition to improve, especially those with nerve damage… Any claims that we do not provide proper treatment are false. .”

Regarding those who have not received compensation from the July Foundation, he said: “As far as we know, there were some problems with some patients’ papers, and that is why they have not received the money yet.”