Over 1,000 killed in student movement: Health adviser

Over a 1,000 people have been killed and more than 400 have lost their sight in one or both eyes during the recent anti-discrimination student protests, said Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum.

She gave the information during a visit to the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh on Wednesday. According to several media reports, the ministry confirmed this information in a press statement yesterday.

"So far 1,000 people have been killed and more than 400 students and members of the general public have lost their sight," Nurjahan was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com news portal.

"Many have become blind in one eye, many have lost sight in both eyes…many people have leg injuries and many of them had to get their legs amputated," reports Reuters quoting the press release.

The ministry did not mention in its statement how it assessed the death toll, but a home ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he believed it was based on hospital records and information from local administration, the Reuters reports.

According to local media reports, the health adviser said: "We have been in contact with the Seva Foundation in America. For those who have lost their sight or have eye problems, we have sent their lists to the foundation. They have assured us that they will send doctors as soon as possible for treatment.

"Patients will be treated at the Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute, the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, as well as in Chattogram Eye Hospital and also in Dinajpur."

The adviser went to see the police personnel injured in clashes and spoke to those at the surgical department to ask about their condition, reports bdnews24.com.

She told the media that many police personnel had sought treatment for their injuries at the hospital. Many had injuries on their heads and legs.