Online Desk: Shakil Ali, a post graduate student of Jahangirnagar University, will not be able to participate in master’s final examination this year as he is failing to do anything with his right hand after receiving bullet wounds during anti-discrmination student movement.
The master’s final examination will begin on December 31, but Shakil, a history department student, is still in hospital bed as the nerves in his right hand were damaged badly in police firing during the July movement.
Now, he is unable to write or do any other work normally with his right hand as severe nerve injuries have left his hand with a condition of impairment.
During the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, a blood-stained picture of a student of Jahangirnagar University spread across the country. A protesting student was carrying another protester wearing a Bangladeshi jersey who was injured in the police firing and bleeding.
When that blood-stained picture of Shakil spread across the country through social media, the students became more energetic and accelerated the movement.
On July 15 midnight, Chhatra League activists and policemen brutally attacked the protesting students in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence.
Protesting the incident, thousands of general students of the university also joined the movement. On July 16, the movement gained momentum.
To thwart that movement, the university administration announced the closure of the university in an emergency syndicate meeting on July 17 and directed all students to leave the halls.
When the students ignored the university decesion, the university authorities brought police to tacke the situation. The armed police attacked the students and fired tearshells and pellets arbitrarily leaving many students injured.
Shakil, who was in the front row of the movement, was seriously injured. His classmates rushed him to the university medical center immediately.
Around 93 pellets hit Shakil’s body. He received treatment at Enam Medical College & Hospital at Savar, Ibn Sina College Hospital and Labaid Specialized Hospital in the capital.
Doctors were able to remove only six pellets through the operations.
There are still 86 pellets stuck in his body.
Doctors said as numerous pellets pierced the nerve in his right hand, he cannot do anything with that hand.
Recalling the memory of the movement, Shakil said, “I participated in the anti-discrimination movement from the beginning.
To quell the movement, the university administration declared the hall vacant on July 17.
We defied that decision and continued our movement. The administration brought the police force to supress the movement. The police attacked us indiscriminately”.
“I was the first to received bullet wounds as I was in front of protersers. Numerous pellets penetrated my body including head, hands. My whole body was soaked in blood. Another agitating student took me to the university’s medical center,” he added.
Shakil said he took treatment in three private hospitals and various clinics of the country.
But the normal condition of his right hand has not returned. He cannot eat or write with his right hand. Doctors said that the nervous system of the right hand has been damaged. They advised him to go abroad for better treatment.
“The university administration has given me some financial assistance recently, which is very insignificant compared to my needs. I am preparing to go abroad for treatment.
But I don’t have the financial capacity. I request the university administration and government to provide full support to complete my treatment,” Shakil said.
Towhid Siam, member secretary of JU Anti Discrimination Student Movement said, “This new Bangladesh is the result of the sacrifice of all the martyrs and injured people of the July uprising.
If the anti-dictatorship movement would not have been successful, the fascist like Hasina would not have hesitated to kill all of us”.
“After the attack on Shakil, the picture of his blood-stained fisted hands inspired students across the country, including Jahangirnagar University. We continued movement with more strength and courage.
He was at death’s door. Fortunately, Allah saved Sakil. He is no less than a martyr,” he added.
Siam said the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement platform will forever remember the sacrifice of all the injured students of Jahangirnagar University including Shakil.
“In response to our demands, Jahangirnagar University administration has given some financial compensation to the injured students. We have also formed a committee on this matter.
Apart from this, financial sussports are being given to the injured and martyred families across the country through the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation,” he added.
Siam said they will take necessary measures for those who need further assistance to complete the treatment. If Shakil needs to go abroad for better treatment, the Anti Discrimination Student Movement platform will contact the government and will take appropriate measures to complete his treatment, he added.
JU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Sohel Ahmed said, “On July 17, the university administration announced the hall vacant to stop the movement. We requested the then vice-chancellor on behalf of the JU Teachers’ Unity Forum to withdraw such a conspiratorial decision.
But he did not keep our request. In addition, he then ordered the police to attack the students.”
Prof Sohel Ahmed said many students were injured in the police attack. Most of them were sent to Enam Medical College Hospital at Savar for treatment.
He then went to Enam Medical to see the injured students where he found Shakil with serious wounds.
The VC immediately sent him to the operation theatre at that time as Shakil’s physical pain was indescribable.
“We’ve provided him some financial support from the university administration for his treatment. He still has 86 pellets stuck in his body, so he needs better treatment. If he wants to go abroad for treatment, we will give him more support.
We will also request the government to stand by Shakil,” Prof Sohel added.
