July uprising injured allege denial of treatment at Nitor

A group of injured from the 2024 July uprising have alleged that they are being denied proper treatment at Dhaka's National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (commonly known as Pongu Hospital).

The allegations were made today (5 July) when members of the newly formed committee of the Students Against Discrimination visited the hospital to see the injured.

Speaking at a press briefing following the visit, the committee's spokesperson Synthia Jaheen Ayesha said, "We received numerous complaints from the injured and their families. One mother told us that after she temporarily took her son home, the hospital refused to readmit him upon their return."

Ayesha further said the mother works as a domestic aid to bear the expenses of her son's food and medicine.

"We have learned that no concrete measures are being taken for their treatment, nor are they receiving any assurance regarding proper care," Ayesha added.

The committee's President Rifat Rashid, echoed these concerns, stating that they found significant dissatisfaction among the injured regarding the quality of treatment.

"There are rumours that the injured have formed groups or syndicates within the hospital. But during the movement, there was no grouping, everyone was united on the streets demanding the fall of Sheikh Hasina. These injured people now deserve proper treatment," Rashid said.

He further demanded that those in critical condition be sent abroad for advanced treatment. "We spoke to the hospital director, and he said he is helpless. But when we asked why, he couldn't answer. Only the health adviser can respond to this, and we plan to speak with the adviser," he added.

One of the injured, Sourav, alleged that several patients have been developing infections due to the lack of proper care. He claimed that authorities asked them to return home for Eid, promising they would be readmitted later, but the promise was not kept.

"If we don't get proper treatment, July will happen again inside this hospital," Sourav warned.

Another July injured, Ashiq, shared his ordeal, saying, "I returned from home 11 days ago, but the hospital refused to admit me. I have no choice but to sleep on the floor without treatment. I am only staying here in the hope of getting admitted and receiving medical care."