Ziaur Rahman Foundation supports injured in Jul-Aug protests

TMA Report

On August 4, 2024, Faiz Ahmed Parvez, a 20-year-old hotel worker, found himself on the front lines of student-led protests in downtown Feni. As the demonstrations surged through the streets, Parvez was struck by gunfire, reportedly from members of the ruling Awami League (AL) or its affiliate, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

The first bullet hit Parvez in the left leg. Despite the injury, he was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors removed the bullet. His family paid Tk 3,000 for the procedure, though the doctor recommended he stay longer for proper recovery. Ignoring the advice, Parvez rejoined the protests the very next day.

By 10 am, the protesters had reached Feni’s Doyel Chattar on Trunk Road. This time, Parvez was hit again—this time, the bullets struck  his left eye. Blinded and in excruciating pain, he collapsed as fellow protesters rushed to help. Attempts to get medical assistance were thwarted by BCL members, who blocked access to a hospital. Parvez was eventually admitted to a government facility, but shockingly, no proper treatment was provided. Doctors there claimed no bullets were present in his eye, despite his continued suffering.

With private healthcare out of reach for his family, Parvez’s condition worsened. However, the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, a platform comprising doctors, engineers, and other professionals, came forward. Through the efforts of Moshiur Rahman Biplab Parvez, a BNP National Executive Committee member from Feni, the foundation arranged for Faiz Parvez to undergo eye surgery at Bangladesh Eye Hospital in Dhaka. The government later covered the cost of the surgery.

In an interview with The Mirror Asia, Parvez recounted the chaos on the day he was shot. He alleged that police and Awami League activists killed at least 11 student protesters at Mahipal. Parvez also described how the attackers, initially armed only with sticks and pistols, retrieved sharper weapons from a nearby car, escalating the violence.

“I feel proud to have played a role in the movement for our country’s freedom,” Parvez said. “I am also proud of my brothers who gave their lives for the cause.”

Though Parvez regained his eyesight thanks to the foundation’s intervention, he is still not fully healed. His eye continue to suffer from irritation, and his vision remains fragile.

Professor Mehbub ul Qadir, a member of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, emphasized the urgency of Parvez’s treatment. “Thankfully, the bullets did not cause permanent damage to his eyes,” Qadir explained. “But without immediate medical attention, the situation could have worsened.”

The violent crackdown on student protests in July and August 2024, aimed at ousting dictator Sheikh Hasina, left approximately 700 students with gunshot wounds to the eyes. Many lost their vision entirely as a result of what protestors described as unrestrained brutality by law enforcement and AL supporters.

Since its inception in 2016, the Ziaur Rahman Foundation has been at the forefront of providing medical aid to opposition activists, often victims of state-sponsored violence. Their work has offered a lifeline to many who would otherwise be left untreated.

Dr. Hasan, another member of the foundation, stated, "Our platform has been actively providing treatment to all those injured during the anti-quota movement in July and August. We initially treated Faiz Ahmed Parvez, and later, the government reached out, offering to cover his surgery expenses, which amounted to Tk 60,000. Had the government not stepped in, we were prepared to handle the costs ourselves."

For Faiz Ahmed Parvez, the road to recovery continues, but his spirit remains unbroken. "I may still feel pain, but it was a pain shared by many, for a cause larger than all of us," he said.