CHATTOGRAM, Dec 19, 2024 (BSS) - The joy and excitement of poor Bappi Meah faded within moments as a bullet pierced through his right leg, when he joined the jubilant procession along with other people in city's Dewanhat area on August 5 following downfall of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.

Bappi, 32, a pick-up van driver took to the streets along with thousands of triumphant people at Mansurabad in Dewanhat area on the day. Little did he know that his life will turn up-side down. 

As he joined the procession, a bullet of armed goons pierced his right leg and he fell on the ground. 

The bullet blew apart the lower parts of the victim's right leg, when local Chattra League and Juba League armed cadres shot indiscriminately on people participating in the jubilant procession from rooftop of a high rise building. 

All the hope of young Bappi was shattered and he is now facing an uncertain future. He has been lying on his bed for the last four and a half months wearing an external fixetor ring (rod) at lower territory of the injured leg. 

Bappi's wife Rozy Akter, 22, and their three minor daughters are now facing an uncertain future ahead as he was the lone breadwinner of the family. 

Saiful, 22, younger brother of Bappi also received bullet injury in his left hand on the same day as he joined the victory procession.

Idrish Miah, 82, a poor day-laborer and father of Bappi and Saiful is now in a great dilemma and staring at a bleak future, as both his sons were injured on the day.

It was a double blow for poor Idrish Meah's family as due to old-age, he cannot work anymore and his two sons were the only bread earner of the family. As such, the family was pushed into great misery. 

Idrish Miah said Saiful was forced to return to his driving job before fully recovering from the injury, to bear daily expenses for the family. 

The irony of fate is that, Bappi and his family members did not receive any financial support from the government. Only a small amount was given by a political party, an industrial group and Anti-Discrimination Student Movement which were spent in early stage of his treatment. 

"My family members are now totally dependent on others mercy and can arrange their day -to-day meals only with the help of relatives and neighbours," said Bappi Meah in an emotion-choked voice.

Idrish Miah, a septuagenarian have been living in a tiny rented house of one Babul Contractor of Meah Bari Road in the city's Mansurabad area along with his wife, 2 sons and 3 grand children. 

Bappi's elder daughter Nisha Akter, 14, is studying in class five and another daughter Tisha Akter, 08, is in class two at a local primary school while his youngest daughter Yamin Akter is only 4-year old. His wife Rozy -a garments factory worker, is now pregnant and has quit her job due to illness.

Bappi said that he was returning home from his parking garage at Monsurabad after completing a trip from Dhaka. 

He saw several wayside processions being brought out by thousands of cheerful people while entering the city and as well as in Dewanhat-Mansurabd areas. 

"I was also heavily thrilled after getting the news of fall of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina and fleeing the country" Bappai said adding that " I gave up the decision to go back home and started observing and enjoying the wave of joyous moments standing at nearby road island". 

He said all of a sudden, local Chattra League and Juba League armed cadres started indiscriminate firing from the top of a high-rise building targeting the joyous procession of people from all strata. 

Bappi tried to flee from the spot, following the random gun shooting. Suddenly a bullet pierced through his right leg and broke his bones. 

"I tried to leave the place by crawling with my broken leg and heavy bleeding but could not. I feel on the ground and remained there for a long time with severe pain. An unknown student rescued me from there and informed my wife Rozy" Bappi described the dreadful moments of his life with a bleak look. 

Bappi's wife Rozy Akter told BSS that injured Bappi was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) by a Battery-run rickshaw at about 6 pm where he was kept lying at a stretcher in front of Emergency department up to 7 pm. 

"No physicians or medical staffs came to help me despite repeated appeal. We were asked to wait for indefinite period of time. By the time an emergency doctor arrived to cover my wound, his stretcher was soaked with blood. He was given a bed at out-patient dept instead of admission at relevant hospital ward," Rozy said about his husband's ordeal in the hospital.

She said she went to the hospital empty-handed. The people present at the hospital gave her Tk 2500 and Tk. 1600 for urgent medicine purchase. 

"As we failed to give him admission at hospital and there was no treatment at emergency ward, we took him to our home at 1 am as I had no cash to shift him into private clinic" helplessly looking Rozy said.
 
She said Bappi is passing sleepless nights due to severe pain in his leg. Besides, some parts of his leg has started rotting. 

Getting suggestions from locals, we contacted with Iftheker Hossain, a representative of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and he helped us to get admission at CMCH on August 9. 

Bappi was now staying at his home and under treatment of Dr. Bulbul Ahmad of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Ward at CMCH.
 
When contacted by this correspondent, Dr. Bulbul Ahmad told BSS over phone that Bappi may require another operation based on his progress as his bone of the lower part of right leg is severely damaged. After first operation, we provided him external fixator with iron rod and he needs to take rest for at least 8 months without any movement. 

Bappi said he received Tk. 30,000 from Akij Group, a business conglomerate, Tk. 30,000 from Jammat e Islami and Tk. 10,000 from Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and a wheel chair from local Metropolitan Hospital Ltd. authority while all the donation money were spent for his treatment purpose. 

"Now I am just a crippled person, I do not know how to feed my wife, three daughters and continue their schooling without any income. Finding no way, I and my family shifted to father-in-laws home in Feni for some days. Now again I am staying at my village home. Help from relatives and neighbors have also stopped gradually," Bappi told with a sobbing voice. 

Bappi said our country is now free from autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina following the supreme sacrifices of students and general masses. 

"This is my earnest request to Interim Government to help and rehabilitate the martyr and injured families so that they could at least survive and lead a normal life in the future," Bappi said. 

As the country started moving towards national election schedule, Bappi was in strong doubt that none will take care of their needs and address their agonies after election. He said treatment and other rehabilitation program being taken by the Interim Govt should be expedited and completed before election. 

Bappi's father Idrish Miah has been suffering from Piles problem for a long time and has saved tk. 40,000 for conducting operation as per doctor's suggestion. 

"I could not see the gloomy face of my beloved son and that's why all the money saved for my treatment already has been spent for Bappi's treatment purpose to save my son from being crippled permanently", Idrish Miah told BSS as tears fell down his cheeks. 

The elderly father of Bappi Miah also demanded exemplary punishment of the culprits responsible for killing and torturing people like his son during autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina.