Teen dies months after sustaining injuries during July uprising

The Report Desk

Published: April 5, 2025, 01:26 PM

Teen dies months after sustaining injuries during July uprising

Source: Collected

A 17-year-old, who was critically injured in police firing during the July uprising in Dhaka‍‍`s Jatrabari, died at Bauphal Upazila Health Complex of Patuakhali yesterday.

Md Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, son of rickshaw-puller Ansar Hawlader from Paschim Yauta village in Patuakhali, died around 3:00pm yesterday, said Upazila Health Officer Dr A Rouf, reports UNB. 

According to family, Hridoy worked as a day labourer in Dhaka and joined the protests against the then-government during the uprising. On July 18, he was shot in the head trice during a police crackdown in Jatrabari. Fearing arrest, his family arranged his treatment "secretly".

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina‍‍`s government on August 5, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors managed to remove two of the bullets. However, one still remained in his skull.

"Hridoy had been suffering from severe pain and recurrent high fevers since the incident," his elder brother, Md Sohag Islam Anis, told The Daily Star. "Doctors couldn‍‍`t remove the last bullet, and he never fully recovered. If he had received better medical care, he might have survived."

On Wednesday, Hridoy‍‍`s condition deteriorated further. He was admitted to Bauphal Upazila Health Complex around yesterday noon. "Given his critical state, we advised the family to take him to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital immediately," said Upazila Health Officer Dr Rouf. "Unfortunately, they could not transport him in time, and he passed away around 3:00pm," he said.

His father, Ansar, lamented the lack of financial support for his son‍‍`s treatment. "I sold my rickshaw and a cow to manage his medical expenses…If we could have arranged treatment abroad, my son might still be alive." 

Hridoy will be laid to rest at the family graveyard on today.

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