How advisers quelled NITOR protests late last night

A group of protesters injured during the July-August mass uprising, who were demonstrating in front of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) yesterday demanding better treatment, relented and agreed to return to their hospitals with the assurance of support and quick release of funds early today.
The development came after four advisers — Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Adviser Mahfuj Alam — went to NITOR at 2:30am and assured the protesters of proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the health adviser, also accompanied them.
Around 12:00pm yesterday, more than 50 people injured in the uprising, who are undergoing treatment at NITOR in Dhaka’s Agargaon and the adjoining National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), launched the protest blocking the road in front of NITOR.
They demanded proper treatment and quick release of funds from the July Smriti Foundation for all the victims.
As their protest continued late into the night defying law enforcers, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination students’ movement, which spearheaded the July uprising, and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, general secretary of the July Smriti Foundation, brother of slain student protester Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, went there to calm the protesters.
Despite their promises and assurances, the protesters refused to end their protest.
At one point, they demanded that four advisers come to meet them and assure them of meeting their demands.
The four advisers then arrived on the scene and addressed the wounded protesters. They admitted that the government had failed to address their needs and expressed their sincere apologies.
Adviser Asif Nazrul requested them for a meeting with a delegation of the wounded protesters at the Secretariat at 2:00pm today to discuss the demands.
They also announced that a roadmap for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured will be prepared and implemented.
Newly appointed adviser Mahfuj Alam said, “We will facilitate the treatment and rehabilitation of all injured persons by December. Just give us time until then and help us create the framework tomorrow (Thursday).”
Asif Nazrul added, “There is failure and mistakes on our part, we should have been far more responsible. We are trying and their was no shortage of that, but we were still unable. We have gone to the chief adviser and he has said with a lot of sincerity that everyone will receive treatment.”
The protesters then agreed to return to their respective hospitals. The advisers were seen accompanying them to their hospital beds.
The four advisers left the scene around 4:15am.

The patients were initially spurred into action when the health adviser Nurjahan Begum, along with the British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, went to NITOR to visit them around 11:30am yesterday, but joined a meeting before seeing all the patients who were expecting her to talk to them.
When the two were leaving the hospital after talking to a few patients, the other injured victims gathered outside and blocked the adviser’s car on the hospital premises, witnesses said.
Some lay in front of the vehicle, while others climbed onto it.
The protocol officers pushed them away during the protests, they alleged.
In response to the situation, the health adviser left in another vehicle. The UK high commissioner also had to leave the hospital in a different car.
The injured protesters — some with bandages on their hands, legs or eyes and others in wheelchairs or with crutches — then left the hospital premises and blocked the adjacent road.
They declared they would not clear the road until the health adviser met everyone. They also expressed frustration over not receiving the promised compensation of Tk 100,000 each.
Confirming the incident, Ziaul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division Police, said the adviser had left safely and her car was not damaged.
Meanwhile, hospital authorities said those injured in the July uprising were being given the highest priority. Special wards and food have been designated for them.
Shahidul Islam, 19, a protester who was wounded by bullets and is now being treated on the second floor of the hospital, said the adviser and others arrived at the hospital and went to the third floor, where they talked to only a few of the injured.
“There are at least 42 of us receiving treatment on the second floor but the adviser was leaving the hospital without seeing us.”
Upon hearing the news, others injured during the July-August protests, who are being treated at nearby hospitals, joined the demonstration as well.
At one stage, military personnel stationed near the hospital requested them to return to the hospital.
However, Md Masum, seated in a wheelchair, said they would not leave until the health adviser returned to meet them. “After three long months, she finally comes here but chooses to neglect us.”
Expressing his grievances, Masum said, “She became an adviser over our blood. Many of us are yet to receive the promised compensation from the July Foundation.”
Al Miraj, an MBA student of IUBAT, was injured in both eyes while protesting in Kakrail on the afternoon of July 19.
He has since been receiving treatment at NIOH. “Doctors have said the treatment for my right eye is not available in the country. We took to the street to demand better treatment.”
Currently, 84 injured protesters from the uprising are undergoing treatment at NITOR. Two separate wards are dedicated for the them — one in level-2 and another in level-3, according to hospital officials.
Till date, 21 people have had their hands and legs amputated, while six patients have died.
Shahin Alam, a ninth-grader who was injured on August 5, and is receiving treatment at NITOR, was also protesting yesterday.
“I was shot in the left leg and underwent four surgeries in NITOR. The doctor told me to come back after nine months. I don’t think I’m getting proper treatment here.”
Md Badiuzzaman, deputy director of NITOR, said, medical teams from China and Thailand visited them, and there is a team from the UK who are working to assess their treatment. Until yesterday, 15 people have undergone surgeries.
“Moreover, the foreign medical teams have expressed a great deal of satisfaction with our medical procedures. But it will take a long time for the patients’ condition to improve, especially those with nerve injuries… Any claims of us not giving proper treatment are incorrect.”
Regarding those who did not receive compensation from July Foundation, he said, “As far as we know, there were some problems with papers of some of the patients, which is why they haven’t received the money yet.”