Govt will do everything for best treatment of those injured in July movement

The government will do everything to ensure all necessary treatment for those injured during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which culminated in the fall of the previous Awami League government and the formation of Prof Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration.

Special Assistant at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prof Dr Sayedur Rahman made the announcement amid the demand for treatment abroad or treatment by foreign doctors raised by those who sustained eye injuries during the movement in July and August this year, says a press release.

Speaking at a workshop on the eyesight and mental health of the injured students and other people organised by the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIO&H) in cooperation with Orbis International at the NIO&H conference room on Wednesday (December 11) he said, “The government is working to ensure treatment, rehabilitation and employment of the injured… We’ll provide you with the treatment you desire.”

The special assistant, who enjoys the authority and status of a state ministry, said the government is not concerned about money and the injured would be taken wherever they need to be taken for the best possible treatment. He informed the audience that 10 with eye injuries were already sent to Thailand and Singapore for better treatment.

He said the process of formal recognition of the July-August movement victims is yet to be completed as the finalisation of the database is being delayed.

He said the government has received the names of 9,500-10,000 thousand injured and has so far verified the information of half of them. “The formal recognition and rehabilitation process will begin after completion of the verification.”

Amid the demand of the injured for prompt actions for their recognition and rehabilitation, he said the government is proceeding carefully to avoid any controversy.

A panel of expert doctors and psychiatrists coming from leading health facilities and institutions, including the Combined Military Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, NIO&H, National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital, and Dhaka University, was present to reply to queries of the injured.

In reply to questions raised by several of the injured, the panel members said they have tried their best to remove all the bullet pellets lodged in their body, but some are still there. They assured that the pellets would not do any harm to them.

Secretary of the Health Service Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Md Saidur Rahman spoke at the workshop as the special guest. Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Md Abu Jafor, Director of NIO&H Prof Dr Khair Ahmed Choudhury and Country Director of Orbis International Dr Munir Ahmed also spoke at the event.

Md Saidur Rahman, in his speech, admitted that some of the injured did not received necessary mental support needed to overcome the trauma they were going through and assured that they would not face such lacking any further.

The secretary said the rehabilitation work for the victims of the movement would start after the finalisation of their data. He said the hospital treating a victim must accompany him or her to the other hospital where he or she is referred.

Md Abu Jafor said the government would everything possible for upholding the dignity of those who lost their lives and suffered injuries in the July-August Movement.

Dr Munir in his speech said mental health usually does not get the importance it deserves in Bangladesh. “However, today’s workshop is an exception. We need to look into what initiative we can be taken to give mental health the due importance.”