They are in power because of our blood, yet now we are labeled as Chhatra League!"—Protester Al Miraz
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, and Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Noorjahan Begum, visited the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) last Wednesday (November 13) afternoon. They spent about an hour inspecting the male ward on the fourth floor. However, when they decided to leave without visiting the injured on the third floor, the protesters expressed their dissatisfaction.
They are in power because of our blood, yet now we are labeled as Chhatra League!"—Protester Al Miraz
As the officials were leaving the hospital premises, an unexpected incident occurred. The protesters blocked their vehicles, demanding a meeting. They expressed frustration over the lack of adequate medical treatment and proper care for the injured. The situation escalated into an all-night road protest. Around 3 a.m., Law Advisor Asif Nazrul, Health Advisor Noorjahan Begum, Youth and Sports Ministry Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, and Advisor Mahfuz Alam arrived at the scene.
During their visit, Asif Nazrul apologized to the protesters, stating, "We have made many mistakes and failed to fulfill our responsibilities properly. By 2 p.m. tomorrow, we will provide a comprehensive plan." He added, "We will keep our promises. If we fail, we will accept any action you take."
Health Advisor Noorjahan Begum also offered assurances, saying, "By December, we will ensure proper treatment and rehabilitation for all those injured in the July-August uprising."
The next day, Thursday (November 14), a 14-member delegation met with the advisors at the Secretariat. However, the meeting was marked by heated discussions. Protesters asked, "Why has proper treatment not been arranged for the injured in the last four months? How do you plan to govern better than Sheikh Hasina if you can’t address these basic issues? Where would you be if we hadn’t stood in front of the bullets?"
Following the meeting, a controversial Facebook post appeared, featuring a picture of one of the protesters alongside a Chhatra League leader, suggesting they were the same person. This sparked outrage among the protesters. Coordinator Sarjis Alam wrote on Facebook, "Many of the protesters are actually members of Chhatra League. They got beaten up by students and are now pretending to be injured in the hospital. They’ve returned as 'Injured League.'"
In response, Al Miraz, injured during the July uprising and falsely labeled as a Chhatra League member, stated, "We led the movement from the front, taking bullets to ensure its success. They are now in power because of our blood. We overthrew Sheikh Hasina's tyrannical government just four months ago. Due to inadequate medical care, many of us are now permanently disabled or blind. When we express our grievances, we are labeled as collaborators of the ousted regime, which is deeply insulting. Those who made the greatest sacrifices are now being ignored the most."
Al Miraz continued, "How could Coordinators Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah disregard us so much as to label us as Chhatra League supporters? I have been a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Student Party (Chhatra Dal) for 15 years, consistently opposing all anti-people decisions of the Awami League. Yet, in a moment, without any verification, they have put my life at risk by falsely labeling me. If anything happens to me, they must take responsibility."
The protesters argue that the government bears sole responsibility for the irreparable damage caused to them and their families due to the lack of necessary medical care for the injured. They assert that the interim government’s first priority after August 5 should have been providing the best possible medical treatment for the injured. However, this failure has left many permanently disabled, blind, and uncertain about their future.