Unconscious for 76 hours: Sayem fights for life after violent clash in CU

Imtiaz Ahmed Sayem, a master's student in the Department of International Relations at Chittagong University (CU), has remained unconscious for 76 hours after being seriously injured in a clash between students and local villagers. 

He is currently on life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Parkview Hospital.

Due to the lack of improvement, a medical board convened this afternoon and recommended another surgery to address a blood clot in his brain. However, a follow-up CT scan showed no increase in the clot, prompting doctors to postpone the operation.

Sayem is from Brahmanpara, Comilla, though his family resides in Shahajanpur, Bogura. His parents, Mohammad Amir Hossain and Shahanaz Amin, along with his brother Asaduzzaman, arrived in Chittagong on Monday, a day after the incident.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Sayem's elder brother, Asaduzzaman Sajib, said, "During Sunday's surgery, his consciousness level was 3. Over the next three days, it has risen to 8-9, but this is still below doctors' expectations. We ask everyone to pray for him."

According to the Glasgow Coma Scale, the most common tool for assessing consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injuries, a score of 3 indicates minimal responsiveness, while 15 indicates full responsiveness.

Meanwhile, another seriously injured student, Mamun Mia, an undergraduate in the Department of Sociology, has been transferred to an ICU cabin and is now able to speak. 

Sirajul Mostafa, in charge of Parkview's specialised unit, said Sayem sustained a skull fracture from a sharp weapon, resulting in brain injury and a ruptured blood vessel. "Mamun's condition has improved significantly; his skull has been preserved and will be surgically reattached in two to two and a half months once he recovers," he added.

Another student, Naimul Islam, a third-year Islamic Studies undergraduate, was transferred to the ICU after undergoing surgery on his right hand at the Vascular Surgery Department of the National Heart Institute in Dhaka on Monday. 

His wrist blood vessel was severed during the attack, and he is expected to undergo a second surgery in 15 to 30 days, depending on his recovery. 

His friend and attendant, Adnan Sharif Asif, said, "Doctors are satisfied with his progress. He will remain in the ICU for a few more days, and the stitches on his hand are expected to be removed in seven to eight days."

The clashes began late Saturday night after a female student was allegedly assaulted by a security guard at her rented apartment, triggering confrontations between students and locals. Over 50 students were injured initially. 

Violence escalated again Sunday morning when locals carrying crude weapons attacked, leaving the vice-chancellor, proctor, faculty, and students injured. Authorities estimate that 400-500 people were affected in total.

According to the District Civil Surgeon's office, more than 300 students received treatment at the university's health center, 114 at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, and 30 at private hospitals.