Bonikbarta Exclusive

Mohammad Kefayet (a pseudonym), a tenth-grade student at Alatunnessa High School in the capital city, was chatting with friends under the flyover in Middle Badda on the morning of July 19. During this time, a clash erupted surrounding the quota reform movement, and Kefayet was shot in the leg. He is undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). Due to the spreading infection, his right leg had to be amputated from the knee to save his life. However, the infection is still not under control, and doctors have informed his family that another surgery might be needed.

His relatives allege that Kefayet did not receive timely medical treatment. Despite taking him to various hospitals, both public and private, none were willing to admit him. His uncle told Bonik Barta, “After he was shot, we took him to at least five hospitals in the capital, but none were willing to admit him, saying treatment was not possible there. Several hours were lost driving him from hospital to hospital in an ambulance, during which he suffered significant blood loss. Doctors have said the bullet severed the artery and vein in his leg.”

Last week, protests and clashes erupted across the country over the quota reform movement in government jobs. There were also reports of attacks, vandalism, and arson in various locations, resulting in numerous casualties.

In NITOR’s Casualty-2 ward, opposite Kefayet's bed, lies Abid (a pseudonym), an employee of a sweet shop. He was also shot on July 19 during a clash related to the quota reform movement on Chittagong Road in the capital. His left leg had to be amputated below the knee. He will have to stay in the hospital for several more weeks to recover, but he laments that he will have to live the rest of his life on one leg.

Kefayet and Abid are not the only ones; several others admitted to NITOR have had their legs amputated after being injured in violence surrounding the quota reform movement. During a visit to the hospital on Wednesday (July 24), it was observed that 34 people were admitted to the Casualty-2 ward alone. Among them, 27 were shot in the leg, and six had their legs amputated. Seven others were shot in the arms. Similar scenes were observed in other wards.

Regarding the amputation of limbs, Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam, head of NITOR's Yellow-1 unit, said to Bonik Barta, “We had to amputate the legs of patients whose arteries or veins were severed by bullets because the lack of blood flow would cause the tissue to decay or die, leading to significant harm to the patient’s body, including damage to vital organs like the kidneys. Thus, doctors decide to amputate the affected limb to save the patient’s life.”

He further added that it is not possible to assume that patients whose legs have been amputated will recover immediately. “The stump will have to be sewn later, as fluids will leak from the wound, which needs to dry. As a result, many patients have to stay in the hospital for a long time. If a patient’s condition is good, we send them home and ask them to return after two to three weeks. If it is found that the infection in the bone and tissue has not decreased and the discharge continues, surgery is performed again. Each patient’s condition is treated accordingly. For those whose bones were fractured by bullets, the wound must heal before surgery. Otherwise, there is a risk of infection. Such patients require a long recovery period."

According to sources at the hospital director’s office, 1,693 patients came to NITOR's emergency department for treatment between 7 am on July 17 and 7 am on July 24. Of these, 241 were gunshot victims, with the highest number, 214, arriving between July 19 and 21.

NITOR's Nursing supervisor, Sabitri Rani Chakraborty, said that some of these patients were in critical condition, and most of them were admitted and underwent emergency surgery. Some still require major surgeries, for which doctors are waiting for the infections to be controlled.

Due to the clashes and violence related to the quota movement, the number of patients at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation significantly increased compared to regular days. Dr Kazi Shamim Uzzaman, the Director Professor said that the leave of many doctors and hospital staff was canceled. He said, “We usually always have a high patient load, but the unstable situation caused an increase in patients, requiring us to work extra hours. Some leaves were also canceled.”

Regarding the treatment, he added, “We have performed emergency surgeries on the gunshot victims, but major surgeries will take time as we need to stabilize their condition and control infections before proceeding with further operations.”