‘18 July was a blood-soaked day’: Ophthalmologist at ICT recounts horrific uprising ordeal
Most of the patients we received on 18 July were injured by metallic pellets, while some had bullet wounds, she says
An ophthalmologist today testified at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, describing the horrific eye injuries she witnessed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.
Her testimony was part of the case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and ex-IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Dr Zakia Sultana Neela, an assistant professor at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital (NIOH), stated that the hospital began receiving patients on 17 July 2024, with five people suffering from metallic pellet and bullet injuries on the first day.
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"July 18 was a blood-soaked day," she told the tribunal.
"Around 100 patients were admitted that day, and we treated more than a hundred others. When I went to the emergency ward at noon, I saw a horrific scene. Among the more than one hundred patients, aged between 14 and 25, many were holding one eye, some clutching both eyes, streaming with blood. Their faces were drenched in blood and distorted in agony," she added.
Dr Neela and her colleagues conducted surgeries on 10 tables until 9pm that night and faced a similar situation the following day.
She noted that most injuries were caused by metallic pellets, though some were from bullets.
"The nature of the injuries included corneal perforations, ruptured scleras, and in some cases, completely ruptured eyeballs," she explained.
The doctor testified that during the significant days of 4, 5, and 6 August, the hospital received a large number of patients.
She said that of the patients treated, 493 had permanently lost vision in one eye, 11 had lost it in both, 28 were suffering from severe visual impairment in both eyes, and 47 had severe visual impairment in one eye.
Dr Neela also mentioned the patients' fear of law enforcement, which caused many to use nicknames or pseudonyms and provide incorrect mobile and ID card numbers to avoid being arrested.
