RAJSHAHI, Nov 23, 2024 (BSS) - Muhammad Riad Ali Khandaker, 20, who sustained bullet-wounds during the anti-discrimination students movement, is struggling to return normal life.  

"I along with all my family members are still in the grip of deep anxieties about getting back to my normal life as my bullet injuries are very critical,”  said Riad, while talking to BSS over phone on Friday.

The bullet-hit student is in anxiety and frustration as he's undergoing treatment after being a victim of anti-discrimination student movement turning to mass-uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina-led government.

He was an active participant in the anti-quota student movement that gradually was getting momentum to end the 16 years rule of fascist Sheikh Hasina.    

Riad, a student of Godagari Model School and College, is now undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, and its doctors are trying to reactivate his mobility power through need-based treatment and assistive devices.

He said a bullet shot by police pierced his left thigh bone during the anti-discrimination student movement at Godagari crossing around 11.30 am on August 5 .

Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) removed the bullet through drilling the bone on August 15 and the hospital authority expressed inability to further treatment and referred him to Dhaka on August 24 as his condition of mobility couldn't be improved.

Dr Alamgir Hossain, Head of the Department of Orthopedics at RMCH, told BSS that the bullet-wounds have caused multiple fractures of thigh bones, damaging nerves and tendons causing dysfunction of knee and foot.
Riad underwent another surgical operation at CMH in Dhaka on September 1 and was released on September 15 suggesting him for a follow-up checkup after one month.

The second among four brothers and three sisters in the family, hailed from Shimantapur village under Godagari Upazila of the district, he may need to undergo a complicated surgical operation related to nerve and tendon reactivation to get back his mobility power.

On behalf of the government, Khandaker Muhammad Obaidullah, 65, father of Riad, was given financial support worth around Taka 72,000.

Talking to BSS, Obaidullah, who runs his family expenses through operating a road-side food shop in front of Godagari Pourashava Office, said around 10-12 students, including his son Riad, were injured during the anti-discrimination students movement on the day.

He said the police were very much aggressive to resist the students-people movement at any cost. They resorted to deadly attacks on the huge rally of students and people at Godagari crossing areas injuring many people on August 5.

He, however, is feeling proud of his son calling him as valiant and hero for his active participation in the student-mass people movement.  “Now I want full recovery of my son from his bullet injuries and return normal life,” Muhammad Obaidullah added.