A total of 424 individuals sought medical treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital (NIOH) after sustaining injuries from teargas shells and pellets fired by police during the quota reform movement. Among them, 278 underwent eye surgery, with a majority having suffered pellet injuries to their eyes.
Hospital authorities disclosed that these patients received treatment between July 17 and July 22. Of the total, 318 were admitted, with most discharged by Tuesday after receiving necessary care.
As of now, several patients remain hospitalized, some requiring multiple surgeries. Many are anxious about the potential loss of their eyesight.
One such patient, Habibur Rahman from Demra, lay in an observation room adjacent to the emergency operation area on Tuesday afternoon, his head bandaged and wearing dark sunglasses. Removing the glasses revealed his injured eye. Habibur, a first-year undergraduate in management at a private university, was struck in the right eye and head by pellets while participating in a demonstration demanding quota reform near Jatrabari Kachabazar on Thursday afternoon.
Narrating his ordeal, Habibur recounted how a group in a white microbus arrived suddenly and fired indiscriminately, causing injuries to several demonstrators.
Morzina Akter, Habibur’s mother, shared her distress at the hospital, recalling the frantic rush to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where her son was initially admitted. Due to head injuries from pellets, he was later transferred to a private hospital in Malibagh before being brought to NIOH for eye treatment.
“After a surgery on Saturday, his eye continued to bleed, prompting doctors to schedule another surgery for Tuesday,” she lamented.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a nurse revealed, “Many injured during the protests received critical treatment here. Some have sustained severe eye damage, raising concerns about permanent vision loss.”
Meanwhile, Rakibul Ahsan, a fourth-year statistics student at BM College, Barishal, is recuperating in ward no. 451 after being targeted during an attack on protesters at Nathullabad bus stand, where he sustained a gunshot wound to his right eye.
Rakibul shared his medical journey, explaining his initial treatment at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka for surgery the next day. Physicians have given him a 50 percent chance of regaining his sight.
Beyond protesters, numerous bystanders, professionals, and ordinary citizens were also injured in the clashes.
Zihad Mahmud of Mirpur-1 recounted being hit by pellets in his eye and body while commuting home from work at Mirpur-2, where he works at a fast food shop. With tensions escalating on July 18, the shop closed early, and Zihad attempted to navigate through Darus Salam area, seeking refuge behind a bus but ultimately sustaining injuries.
NIOH Director Golam Mostafa confirmed over the phone that most injuries treated were due to pellets. While many have been discharged post-surgery, patients will continue weekly follow-ups to assess their recovery progress and potential for restored eyesight.
Related topics:
