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

This development came after four advisors of the caretaker government – legal affairs advisor Asif Nazrul, fisheries and livestock advisor Farida Akhter, local government advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and advisor Mahfuj Alam – went to the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (NITOR), where the injured were protesting, at 2:30 a.m. and assured them of treatment and appropriate rehabilitation.

Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the health advisor, also accompanied them.

Yesterday noon, more than 50 people injured during the uprising and who were receiving treatment at NITOR in the capital’s Agargaon district, as well as at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and the nearby hospital, launched the demonstration by blocking the road in front of NITOR.

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

As their protest continued late into the night, defying law enforcement, Hasnat Abdullah, organizer of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led the July uprising, and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, secretary general of the Smriti Foundation of July and brother of the 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 counselors come to them and assure them that they would respond to their requests.

According to Prothom Alo, the advisors, who came to respond to the call, recognized the government’s mistakes and expressed their regrets to the demonstrators.

They said a meeting would be held today at 2 p.m. with a delegation of injured people at the Secretariat to discuss the demands.

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

The demonstrators then agreed to return to their respective hospitals. The counselors were seen escorting them to their hospital beds.

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

The protests began after health advisor 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 men left the hospital after speaking to some patients, the other injured people gathered outside and blocked the counselor’s car on the hospital grounds, witnesses said.

Some lay down in front of the vehicle, while others climbed on top.

Protocol officers pushed them back during the protests, they said.

Faced with 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 on their hands, legs or eyes and others in wheelchairs or on crutches – then left the hospital and blocked the adjacent road.

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

Confirming the incident, Ziaul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of police, Tejgaon division, said the councilor left safely and her car was not damaged.

Separately, hospital authorities said those injured in the July uprising were given the highest priority. Special rooms and food were designated for them.

Shahidul Islam, 19, a protester who was shot and currently 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 did not only spoke to a few of the patients. hurt.

“There are at least 42 of us receiving care on the second floor but the counselor left the hospital without visiting us.”

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

At one point, soldiers 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 arrives here but chooses to neglect us.”

Expressing her grievances, Masum said, “She became a counselor because of our blood. Many of us are yet to receive the compensation promised by the July Foundation.”

Al Miraj, an MBA student at IUBAT, was injured in both eyes while protesting in Kakrail on the afternoon of July 19.

Since then, he has been treated at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and hospital. “Doctors said treatment for my right eye was not available in the country. We took to the streets to demand better treatment.”

Currently, 84 protesters injured during the uprising are being treated at NITOR. Two separate rooms are dedicated to them – one on level 2 and another on level 3, according to hospital officials.

To date, 21 people have had their hands and legs amputated, while six patients have died.

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

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

Md Badiuzzaman, deputy director of NITOR, said medical teams from China and Thailand have visited them, and a team from the United Kingdom is working to evaluate their treatment. Until yesterday, 15 people were operated on.

“In addition, foreign medical teams have expressed great satisfaction with our medical procedures. But it will take a long time for the condition of patients to improve, especially those suffering from nerve damage… Any claims that we We are not providing appropriate treatment is false.

Regarding those who have not received compensation from the July Foundation, he said: “To our knowledge, there have been problems with the papers of some patients, which is why they have not yet received the ‘money “.