Mamun Mia is from Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj and supports his family through his work as a tractor driver. On July 19, he went out with his tractor for his work as usual. However his life changed when he got caught in the violent clashes surrounding the quota reform movement. Assailants attacked him, severely injuring his right hand. Doctors had to amputate the injured hand to save his life. Now, Mamun grapples with a haunting question: how will he survive without his hand?
Mamun is currently receiving treatment at The National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). To cover the medical expenses, he had to sell his cow.
This reporter visited Mamun at NITOR on July 24 and again on yesterday. Quietly weeping while sitting on his hospital bed, supporting himself with his left hand, Mamun asked, “How will I live without my hand, sir?”
On July 25, doctors from Red Unit-1 performed surgery on Mamun’s arm. Dr. Zahid Hasan Siddique, a doctor in this unit, told Bonik Barta, “Mamun’s right hand was shattered in multiple places by a sharp and heavy weapon. It caused severe bleeding. His left hand was also fractured near the wrist. We couldn’t find any pulse on his right hand. Veins and arteries were cut open.
He continued, “We initially tried to save his right hand. But the blood flow couldn’t be restored, leading to gangrene. Five days after the injury, we had no choice but to amputate the arm above the elbow. He is now in stable condition. We will discharge him soon.”
Recounting the attack in which he lost his arm, Mamun told Bonik Barta that on July 19 he was heading home for lunch, leaving his tractor parked. Near his home in the Lakshmipur area of Bhairab municipality, attackers ambushed and injured him with machetes.
Mamun recalled that a skirmish between armed men and quota reform activists was taking place a short distance away in the New Town area. He recognized many of his attackers, Mamun said.
Mamun’s wife, Mousumi Akter, is by his side at the hospital. Their eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter is now staying with their maternal grandparents. Mamun’s mother-in-law also came.
Mousumi shared that despite the lower costs at the government hospital, they are spending thousands daily on medicines. So far over a lakh has been spent. To pay the expense, they resorted to selling their cow for BDT 80 thousand.
She mentioned that Mamun had no enemies. Yet he is left living without a limb. Mamun lamented, the hand that supported his family is now gone. Now he will have to depend on others for the rest of his life.
Many others injured in the quota reform violence are also being treated at this hospital. Their stories echo that of Mamun’s. Some of them have lost hands, and some their legs. There are also many stories of lost lives.
In NITOR’s Casualty-2 ward, many patients with gunshot wounds have been admitted. Visiting the ward, many patiets with gunshot wounds were seen with fear across their faces.
One of the patiets with gunshot wounds is Mehedi Sarkar (alias), a fourth-year student at Dhaka College. He was shot in the left leg. He has five fractures below the knee, and the wound has become gangrenous. Doctors have removed the infected tissue. He pleaded, “Pray for me, brother, I’m terrified. Many others here have had amputations. The doctors aren’t sure yet. My legs are already gangrenous. It feels like I’ve been in hell since I was injured.”
According to NITOR, from July 17 to 25, nearly 1,750 patients visited the emergency department. Of these, 275 were gunshot victims, with 76 still undergoing treatment. Most of the gunshot victims were admitted in July 19-21 period, with 214 gunshot injuries reported.