Staff Correspondent

Many students, pedestrians, and various professionals injured during the quota reform movement have left hospitals without completing their treatment, allegedly due to intimidation by the police and intelligence agencies, according to those involved in the movement.

A Chittagong College student, Omar Sagar (pseudonym), who was active in the quota reform movement, was shot in Muradpur on 16 July.

He said, “We were standing in front of Shyamoli Polytechnic in Muradpur around 4pm on 16 July when our peaceful movement was attacked. Shots were fired, and I was hit on the right side of my stomach. I was in a private medical facility for a few days.”

“The police raided our houses and messes, making it difficult to receive full treatment. We are currently suffering from insecurity, and those associated with the movement have been arrested,” he added.

In Dhaka, most injured patients arriving at hospitals are students, while many gunshot victims are professionals and pedestrians. A security guard at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital reported that during the clashes in the capital, the hospital was crowded with gunshot patients, mostly students. However, this reporter did not find any students among the patients currently under treatment.

Similarly, around 500 patients injured in clashes in Uttara sought treatment at Kuwait Bangladesh Maitri Hospital over three days starting from 18 July. According to the hospital’s security personnel, most patients were aged 15-25 years. However, an onsite investigation revealed that the number of patients under treatment was very low, and no students were seen.

Security personnel at Uttara Modern Hospital reported that about 400 injured patients came to the hospital during the clashes, most of whom appeared to be students. Currently, only one student from Habibullah Bahar College remains under treatment. His mother said that he was injured while visiting his sister’s house as a pedestrian, not as an activist.

More than 400 patients with injuries from clashes in Badda and Notun Bazar areas arrived at AMZ Hospital on Pragati Sarani. According to a security worker, most were likely students, but no patients were found in the hospital at present. The hospital information centre confirmed that no patients injured during the quota reform movement are currently under treatment.

Ariful Islam, assistant manager of the hospital, told the Daily Sun that the patients have left after receiving treatment, and no one is currently admitted. Accurate Integrated Medical Services Hospital, located near BRAC University and Canadian University, treated over 200 patients, but all left within 1-2 days.

According to the hospital’s security personnel, many left due to minor injuries, while others departed without completing their treatment out of fear.