BOGURA, Sept 14, 2024 (BSS)- Zunayed Islam Ratul, a Class-VI student of Path Public School in Bogura Uposhahar, received splinter injuries on his head, body and eyes during student-mass movement.  

Splinters of shot gun pierced his body as he was in a procession in Bogra town during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement against the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina on August 5.

Ratul has been fighting for life in a critical condition for 38 days at ICU of National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital in the capital.

Talking to BSS in the hospital, Ratul’s mother Rokeya Begum said “My son remains senseless for 38 days and couldn’t utter a single word following his admission to the hospital.

Rokeya Begum round-the-clock is staying beside her son's bed but can’t sleep for a moment.

“I always think when my son will call me as “Ma”. But my waiting is never ending,” Rekeya said as she was sitting beside his son's bed and praying for his recovery.

Emotion-choked mother told that she requested her son to take meal before going to the procession on August 5.
 
“My son didn’t pay heed to my request, leaving the house immediately to take in the movement. But he couldn’t return safely as he received critical injuries,” she said.

Though his mother forbid him to go to movement without taking meal, Ratul along with his sister Jerin, a honors student at Govt. Mujibur Rahman Women's College, Bogura and his brother-in-law Amir Hamza joined the movement of the student-masses.
 
Like others, they started marching towards Borogola near Bogura Sadar Thana with chanting slogans.     
 
His elder sister Jerin said Ratul was beside her. Suddenly police started firing on the masses and four sprinters hit Ratul’s head.

One splinter pierced into his head through his eye and later many scattered splinters hit different parts of his body, Jerin said.

Ratul’s sister and his brother-in-law took him to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in senseless condition but on-duty doctors referred him to National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.

After his admission in the Dhaka hospital, Ratul underwent an operation and doctors removed a pallet from his head.
 
Ratul’s brother-in-law Hamza said that medical arrangements have been made for Ratul’s artificial respiration.
 
Ratul’s father Ziaur Rahman, a local vendor, said that he is selling all his belongings for treatment of his son. He already spent Taka five lakh so far in this purpose.

 “Expanse is not a matter if my son recovers. I want my son’s complete recovery,” he said
 
He sought prayers from everyone for his son’s recovery.
 
Ziaur Rahman said that Ratul's school authorities provided some financial support as per their capacity.

Two more voluntary organizations also came forward in his support, Ratul’s father said adding ‘however, it is very insufficient compared to the requirement.’