PIROJPUR, April 20, 2025 (BSS) – Md Bellal Hossain (30) of Indurkani upazila of the district, who sustained bullet injury during the 2024 July Uprising, is now passing days with a hope to return to a normal life.

Bellal joined the anti-discrimination student movement being encouraged by his conscience while he sustained the bullet injury on July 19 when the movement turned into a student-people uprising following the death of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) student Abu Sayeed in police firing on July 16.

Bellal moved to the capital city Dhaka in 2012 in search of a livelihood. For the first 10 years, he worked as a day laborer in the capital. Then, in hopes of a better life, he began a new chapter in 2021 by starting a coconut-selling business in the Kajla Bridge area of Jatrabari in Dhaka. He brings coconuts from his home district, Pirojpur, and sells them there. Since starting this business, his fortunes began to change.

He was living a happy life with his wife, Umme Hafsa (21), their only son, Mahmudul Hasan (3), and his younger brother, Badol.

But suddenly, everything has changed. A shadow of cloud cast over his family as Bellal sustained bullet injury during the July mass uprising. Though he survived by chance, his right arm has become nearly useless. Now, he is unable even to do regular work.

Bellal is the second son of Abdul Barek Hawlader (65) and Momtaz Begum (55), a couple from South Indurkani village, among their six sons. The family has no arable land. In their village, Abdul Barek Hawlader runs a small tea stall.

Talking to BSS at his rented house in the Kajla Bridge area in Jatrabari, Bellal said he still shudders with fear when he recalls that day.

“It was July 19. After Abu Sayeed was shot dead by police in Rangpur, the anti-discrimination student movement had intensified. That day, after offering Fajr prayers, I too went out to join the street protest. My conscience drove me to join the movement,” he said.

Bellal recalled that the number of protesting students and people were increasing rapidly keeping pace with time. On the other hand, at one stage, the police began firing indiscriminately to disperse the protesters, he said.

Bellal recollected that around 9am to 9.30am, one of the bullets fired by the police struck his right arm while several others also sustained bullet injuries.

“After being shot, at first I couldn’t understand what had happened. I just heard a cracking sound near my ear, like a bone breaking. Then I saw my right arm hanging limp and blood dripping onto the road,” he remembered.

People nearby helped him up and took him to a clinic in the Kajla Bridge area, Bellal said, adding, but the clinic authority refused to provide treatment to him.

“Thus, I was taken to a private hospital in Shahjahanpur, they too refused to treat me, saying it was a police case,” he recalled the inhumane approach.

“Later, I was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). There, I was given initial treatment. However, due to the high number of injured patients, I was discharged the same day and asked to revisit later for further treatment,” Bellal recounted.

After returning home, he said he felt unbearable pain in his arm, and was deeply anxious about whether his hand would have to be amputated.

“I couldn’t sleep the entire night. Following the advice of nearest ones, I got admitted to a private hospital in Mohammadpur the next day,” he said, adding, he went under a surgery there under the Associate Professor of National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) Dr ABM Ruhul Amin.

Talking to BSS Dr Ruhul Amin said the bullet hit the upper part of Bellal’s right arm and exited through it.

“We performed surgery and inserted a rod into his arm. It will need to stay that way for about seven months. Another surgery might be required afterward,” he added.

Bellal said he has already spent Taka 2.5 lakh for treatment. He urged the government and as well as affluent section of society to provide financial support for ensuring his better treatment.    

Bellal’s wife, Umme Hafsa, feels proud of her husband. “Though my husband has sustained injury, the country has been freed from the oppressor. Now, my only wish is that my husband can return to a normal life, resume his business as before, and that together we can provide our child with a proper education,” she said.

With a heavy voice, Bellal said since he sustained the injury, he can no longer carry his only child in his arms and walk around as before. He cannot even wear his clothes after a bath by himself, nor can he eat with his own hands.

Bellal said the pain in his arm prevents him from sleeping properly at night. He is unable to carry out normal tasks. Additionally, the constant thought of whether he would ever return to a normal life haunts him.

Nevertheless, Bellal dreams of a new Bangladesh. “There will be no discrimination in this newly independent country achieved through the sacrifice of the students and the people. Everyone will enjoy their citizen rights equally. There will be no rise of fascism,” he hoped.