Md Shaker Ullah. Photo: Collected

CHATTOGRAM, March 11, 2025 (BSS) -  Md Shaker Ullah's hope of returning to normal life is gradually fading. He is spending his days in fear of becoming permanently disabled he due to lack of proper treatment.

Hawker Shaker Ullah, 24, son of Islam Miah of Sheikherkhil union at Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram, is still fighting for his life with serious injuries. 
Shaker used to run his family by doing irregular small businesses. He has only child, Md Abdur Shukkur, 18 months old.

On August 4, 2024, before the fall of the fascist Sheikh Hasina government, numerous splinters pierced his right leg in an armed attack by police and Chhatra League-Juba League cadres during a local procession in the district.

During the movement, Shaker became emotional after witnessing the scenes of indiscriminate killings and attacks by the ousted Hasina government on protesting students and ordinary people across the country. 

At one point, he participated at the anti-fascist movement with local people as part of nationwide programme.

On August 4, self-confident Shaker joined a protest march with 50 local people at Sheikherkhil Bazar in the morning and blockade road. 

As the agitation continued to heat up, a tense situation developed in the rural areas. Around 4 pm, an armed force of Jubo League and Chhatra League, backed by the police, launched a surprise attack on the protesters near Chambal Bazar and opened fire, making many injured including Shaker on the spot. 

Injured Shaker could not move from the scene as he sustained countless splinters. He fell to the ground with the other injured people, losing consciousness there due to excessive bleeding. 

Locals and protesters took him to a village doctor, where he was given first aid.

Later, Shaker was taken to a hospital in Cox's Bazar as his condition was deteriorated. The on-duty doctors were unable to remove the splinters from his leg and referred him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment.

Shaker regained consciousness at around 10 pm. Later, his wife and relatives admitted him to CMCH at 3am. After being treated at CMCH for three days, he was discharged from the hospital without surgery.

Shaker went to CMCH again on August 30 as his condition deteriorated. Even then, the doctors were unable to remove the splinters saying that removing splinters could rot leg muscles, which may lead to permanent paralysis.

Shaker's helpless poor family has also visited two private clinics in Chattogram city in a desperate bid to provide him with better treatment. They wanted to at least relieve Shaker from his pain and bring him back to a normal life.

He said that his family has already spent Tk two lakh on his treatment purpose.

"This money came from the only asset I received from my father, selling 2.4 katha of land. I even had to sell my sister's jewelry to meet the expenses,' he added.

Shaker's wife Hamida, 22, passed SSC before marriage. Even after marriage, they lived happily despite having financial crisis in the family. 

Talking about the fateful day, Shaker said, "We were ready to sacrifice our lives not for personal gain, but for the country and justice. But unfortunately, we have fallen into such an uncertain life that no one even looks after us today."

Shaker's right leg is still immobile and since about 144 splinters are still inside his leg, he barely can stand on his own without the help of others.

Shaker is facing extreme uncertainty centering him and his family's future as his family has no other source of income to maintain livelihood.

Shaker said, "I humbly request to the interim government to save me from becoming paralyzed by providing proper treatment."

He also requested to the government to provide his wife a government job so that they could live a decent life in future.