Injured protesters return to hospital as advisers assure of support

Four advisers met with the injured of the July-August mass uprising, who were protesting for better treatment, at National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (NITOR) early Thursday.

The advisers arrived on the scene hurriedly around 2:30AM to meet the wounded protesters and addressed them. They assured them of giving proper treatment and rehabilitation.

Getting assurance, the protesting injured returned to the hospital after around 13 hours’ of protest.

The four advisers who went to the NITOR are Legal Affairs adviser Asif Nazrul, Local Government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Fisheries and Livestock adviser Farida Akhter, and adviser Mahfuj Alam. They left the hospital around 4:15AM.

The wounded have been protesting in front of the NITOR since Wednesday noon. Hasnat Abdullah, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, general secretary of the July Smriti Foundation and brother of slain student protester Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, went there to solve the issue with them. But the protesters said they would remain on the street until the advisers assured them.

They raised additional complaints, criticising delays in funds from the July Smriti Foundation, which many had relied upon for medical and other assistance.

The four advisers admitted their mistakes and expressed their regret to the protesters.

They said a meeting will be held with a delegation of the injured at the secretariat at 2PM.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, accompanied by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, went to the hospital to visit the victim of the July-August mass uprising on Wednesday. Seeing them, the injured, who are taking treatment at the NITOR, surrounded the adviser’s car. Some lay in front of the vehicle, while others climbed onto it.

The situation turned tense after a member of Nurjahan Begum’s protocol allegedly pushed one of the patients, triggering discontent among the victims.

Some of the protesters raised additional complaints, criticising delays in funds from the July Smriti Foundation, which many had relied upon for medical and other assistance.

With tensions escalating, both the health adviser and High Commissioner Cook attempted to leave the hospital premises. But, the aggrieved patients and their supporters surrounded their vehicle, blocking their departure.

With the assistance of hospital staff and doctors, Nurjahan Begum and Sarah Cook eventually managed to leave the premises.