Md Shaker Ullah. Photo: Collected

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 4, 2025 (BSS) – Twenty-four-year old poor vendor Md Shaker Ullah’s hope to back normal life has been faded away fast as he will have no alternative rather than embracing to lead an untimely disable life for lack of proper treatment. 

Shaker, son of Islam Meah of Shekherkhil union under coastal Banshkhali upazila in the district is still struggling with his severe injuries since August 4 last year, the penultimate day of fall of fascist Sheikh Hasina regime, when he received numerous splinters at his right leg during reckless firing on a rally by police, local armed cadres of Chhattra League and Juba League. 

Shaker got emotional and frenzied after seeing indiscriminate killing and attack on students as well as mass people by ousted Hasina government throughout the country and at one stage he joined the movement organized locally as a part of countrywide protest against fascist regime. 

Spirited Shaker merged himself into a rally of protesters and joined road-blockade programme at Shekherkhil Bazar in the morning of August 4, 2025 in which around 50 people participated in the programme. 

A tense situation had been prevailing surrounding rural areas centering the growing wave of the movement. At around 4 pm, a group of armed goons belonged to Juba League and Chhattra League backed by police suddenly attacked on the gathering of protesters near local Chambal Bazar and went on a rampage with reckless firing that left many injured with bullet wounds. 

Shaker failed to move away from the bloody scene as uncountable number of sprinters pierced his right leg and got grounded along with some other injured persons.  Following heavy bleeding, Shaker lost his sense on the spot. Local people and participants in the protest brought him to a village doctor where he was given simple first aid. As his condition had been deteriorating, Shaker was rushed to a hospital in Cox’s Bazar where doctors shown their inability to pull back the splinters from his leg and gave advice to take him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for improved treatment.  

Shaker regained his sense at around 10 pm and his wife and relatives took him to CMCH where he got admitted at 3 am.  Shaker had been under treatment at CMCH for three days there and later, was released with medication without conducting any surgery to bring out bullets inside his leg. Again he went to CMCH at August 30 as his condition was almost remained unchanged.  Attending doctors there again shown their reluctance to pullout the bullets as it might caused to decompose his leg muscle that would lead to turn him disable permanently. 

Helpless poor family of Shaker moved around here and there including two private clinics in Ctg city in searching of proper treatment especially free him from endless pain at splinter-hit dysfunctional leg and with a hope for give him a normal life. 

“I have not received any single penny or treatment support from government and any other organization or individuals” Shaker told BSS with gloomy look in his eves adding that his family already spent Tk 2 lakh for his treatment. 

The money his family managed by selling four ‘Shatak’ land, the only assets he inherited from his father. Even, he had to sell gold ornaments of his sister to manage treatment cost.  

Shaker’s wife Hamida, 22, had her SSC degree before marriage and the couple has been living a happy life before August 4 last year with their 18-months old only son Md Abdur Shukkur though they have financial hardship to manage daily family needs with poor income by irregular small trading.   

While narrating his intention behind joining the anti-quota and one-point movement, Shaker said, “We were ready to make even supreme sacrifice for the cause of our country and ensure justice for all, not for personal gain. But it is irony of fate that none feel for us in such an uncertain days of our life.” 

Condition of Shaker’s right leg with full of scattered bullets numbering around 144 till the filing of this report become inactive and he cannot stand without support by others. Shaker worried very much about future of his wife Hamida and their only son Shukkur as the family has no alternate income source and other assets for their support. 

“My humble submission to present interim government to provide him proper treatment to save him from being crippled and give a government job to his wife so that they could at least sustain in uncertain future,” Shaker told BSS in an appealing tone. 

Shaker said he has no regret for his injury or a suspicion of being crippled as what he had done, because he had done it for freeing beloved motherland from all sorts of discrimination, injustice and corruption. 

“Our sacred dream will be fulfilled when a just, discrimination free and humane Bangladesh will be established,” Shaker Ullah said.