Mobin, who lost vision in protest shooting, faces treatment delay for funds

Mobin Hossain, a 17-year-old from Shariatpur, lost his eyesight and hearing in one ear after being shot during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement in Dhaka. His medical treatment has come to a standstill due to financial constraints.

Doctors said Mobin could regain his vision and hearing with a total of Tk 300,000 to Tk 400,000.

In such a situation, Mobin, a shop employee, has sought assistance from the public.

Mobin, hailing from Boro Sidhalkura village in Shidulkura Union of Shariatpur’s Damudya Upazila, is the son of the late Mofazzal Hossain.

On 18 Jul, he was injured in a police shooting during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement near Rajlakshmi in Dhaka’s Uttara.

Family members said that Mobin's father died five months ago, leaving his mother, Nazma Begum, in a dire situation with their three sons, including a younger son who is disabled.

Following advice and support from relatives, the eldest son, Nazmul Huda Palash, took up a job as a driver, while Mobin joined a computer shop in Uttara. Their earnings kept the family afloat.

On Jul 18, Mobin went to his workplace, a computer shop on Road No. 2 in Uttara, owned by Md Wasim Talukder. At that time, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement was at its peak across the capital.

Mobin closed the shop and joined the student procession.

As the procession approached Uttara Police Station, police fired indiscriminately from inside the station.

A bullet entered through Mobin’s left ear and exited through the right ear, while shotgun pellets injured both his eyes and his head.

Protesters took Mobin to a local hospital in Uttara.

Upon hearing the news, his family rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but he continued to experience bleeding in the head.

Due to a lack of funds, Mobin has been unable to return to the hospital and is currently at home.

Mobin, who lost his eyesight, told bdnews24.com: “Shortly after entering the shop that day, the quota reform procession began. I closed the shop and joined the student march.”

“When the procession reached near the police station, my ears and eyes were injured by the gunfire. I was first taken to Kuwait Maitri Hospital and then admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.”

Mobin has appealed to the public, including the protestors, for support to regain his vision and hearing.

Mobin’s elder brother, Palash, said: “I was at home when I got a call around 11am from an unknown number asking if I was Mobin’s brother. They told me to rush to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, saying, ‘your brother Mobin has been injured in a police shooting and is in hospital.’

“I went to the hospital and found him. Following the doctors' advice, I took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. I have spent over Tk 120,000 from my savings on his treatment.”

“We have nothing left but the land we live on. If he doesn’t regain his hearing and eyesight, he will become disabled. One of our brothers is already disabled, and if Mobin doesn’t recover, the burden on our family will increase. The doctor said Mobin could recover completely with Tk 300,000 to Tk 400,000.”

In this dire situation, Palash has called on the Anti-discrimination Student Movement activists and the government to come forward and assist with Mobin’s treatment.

In a tearful voice, Mobin’s mother, Nazma, said: “A few months after Mobin’s father passed away, Allah did this to me. I have one disabled son already, and managing him is a struggle.

“Now another son has lost his eyesight and hearing in the protest. Where do I go with two disabled sons? If the public could help with my son’s treatment, I might have some hope to live.”