Dhaka: Muhammad Riad Ali Khandaker, 20, who sustained bullet wounds during the anti-discrimination students movement, is struggling to return to normal life. "I along with all my family members are still in the grip of deep anxieties about getting back to my normal life as my bullet injuries are very critical," said Riad, while talking to BSS over the phone on Friday. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the bullet-hit student is in anxiety and frustration as he undergoes treatment after being a victim of the anti-discrimination student movement, which turned into a mass uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Riad was an active participant in the anti-quota student movement, which gained momentum to end the 16-year rule of Sheikh Hasina. Riad, a student of Godagari Model School and College, is currently receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. Doctors are working to restore his mobility through need-based treatment and assistive devices. He recounted that a bullet, fired by police, pierced his left thigh bone during the movement at Godagari crossing around 11:30 am on August 5. Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) removed the bullet by drilling the bone on August 15. The hospital authority, unable to further treat his condition, referred him to Dhaka on August 24 as his mobility showed no improvement. Dr. Alamgir Hossain, Head of the Department of Orthopedics at RMCH, stated that the bullet wounds caused multiple fractures, damaging nerves and tendons, resulting in dysfunction of his knee and foot. Riad underwent another surgical operation at CMH in Dhaka on September 1 and was released on September 15, with a follow-up checkup scheduled for one month later. As the second of four brothers and three sisters, hailing from Shimantapur village under Godagari Upazila, Riad may need a complex surgical operation for nerve and tendon reactivation to regain his mobility. On behalf of the government, Riad's father, Khandaker Muhammad Obaidullah, 65, re ceived financial support amounting to approximately Taka 72,000. Obaidullah, who supports his family by operating a roadside food shop in front of Godagari Pourashava Office, shared with BSS that around 10-12 students, including Riad, were injured during the movement. He described the police as particularly aggressive in their efforts to quash the students' and people's movement, resorting to deadly attacks at the Godagari crossing, injuring many on August 5. Despite the challenges, Obaidullah expressed pride in his son's bravery and active participation in the movement, referring to him as valiant and a hero. "Now, I want full recovery of my son from his bullet injuries and return to normal life," he added.
