Five drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and human haulers, an elderly
woman and a cop were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital burn
unit with critical burn injuries they sustained in violence at places
as the BNP-led opposition began enforcing two-day countrywide blockade
on Tuesday.
Some of them are facing life threats, said doctors at the hospital.
Pentagenarian woman Anwara Begum Anu is fighting for life at the
intensive care unit of the hospital as her head was seriously wounded by
explosion of a crude bomb.
Anwara, a chef of National Bank Malibagh branch, was returning home from the workplace at about 3:00pm.
As she reached in front of city corporation office at Khilgaon
Tilpapara, two crude bombs were hurled at the place. Unfortunately, one
of those exploded on her head leaving her critically injured.
Police constable Md Dulal Mia, 30, is also fighting for survival at the ICU. He sustained bomb injury in the head in Jaipurhat.
Since it was a turbulent day, CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Sabed Ali,
33, did not want to run his auto-rickshaw in the street. But, with the
pressure of owner, he was forced to run it.
Sabed just made two trips between 8:00am and 1:00pm. In the second trip, he carried a passenger from Gulshan to Hatirpul.
As he dropped the passenger in front of Eastern Plaza at Hatirpul at
about 1:30pm, the assailants poured petrol on her body and the
auto-rickshaw and set them on fire.
‘The family now fears uncertain future ahead as Sabed is the only earner
for the seven-member family,’ said his wife Aleya Khatun.
The story of another CNG driver, Md Rubel, 45, was even worse.
Assailants set the auto-rickshaw on fire keeping him inside the vehicle
in Comilla Bishwaroad area on Monday night.
The victim’s wife Nasima Begum said that he borrowed Tk 5,000 from one of their relatives and rushed her husband to the DMCH.
‘Doctors said that my husband needs to feed fruits and healthy food. How
would I manage those, when I even cannot buy medicine they prescribed,’
said Nasima.
The fates of CNG-un auto-rickshaw driver Nesaruddin Nesar, 28,
Nizamuddin, 45 or Leguna driver Mozammel, 19, were not dissimilar.
The DMCH burn unit reordered that about 90 people were injured either by
vehicle arson or crude bomb explosions in last one month.
The DMCH director Mustafizur Rahman told New Age that they never
witnessed huge number of victims in political violence like recent
times.
He said that over 100 were admitted with different types of wounds since October 25. (source)