Cry for justice: The untold pain of a youth with over 250 pellet bullets in his body
Without proper treatment and having lost his job, the warrior stares at despair
Sumon Bepari, an 18-year-old participant in the anti-discrimination student movement, suffered over 250 pellet bullets during a protest in Kushtia on 5 August.
Although he survived the incident, he has since lost his job and remains bedridden in excruciating pain, lacking proper medical care.
The eldest son of Ali Hossain from Hasimpur Bazar in Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia, Sumon was forced to leave school after completing class seven due to financial difficulties.
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He worked as a delivery worker at a bakery in Kushtia until he decided to join the protests from 1 to 5 August.
On the afternoon of 5 August, a violent confrontation erupted.During the chaos, a man named Sabuj was shot in front of Sumon. In an attempt to assist him, Sumon was struck by multiple pellets, causing him to lose consciousness amidst the tear gas.
Sumon was subsequently rescued and taken to Kushtia General Hospital, where he spent six days receiving treatment. Despite his ordeal, he returned home with several hundred still lodged in his body. Nearly two months later, he has received no support or recognition for his injuries, and no one has checked in on his condition or offered financial assistance for his treatment.
Reflecting on his experience, Sumon said, "I worked at Shishir Bakery in Kushtia. I joined the protest on 1 August. On 5 August, I saw Sabuj shot and fall in front of me. When I tried to help him, I was hit. Tear gas enveloped me, and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Only my employer visited me during my six days in hospital, and since then, no one has come to see me."
He continued, "The doctors told me I have over 250 gunshot pellets in my body, and removing them would be very expensive. My father, who does small jobs, can barely support our family of five. Now, I can't stand, walk, or even sit without pain in my back and waist."
"When I lie down, my head hurts, and I can't go outside because my skin burns. My father is already struggling, and my treatment seems impossible. I've lost my job, and I don't know if I'll ever work again. I feel that I am a burden on my family because of the protest."
Sumon's father, Ali Hossain, shared his distress, saying, "My son had a small job in Kushtia. I didn't know he was participating in the protests, but after he was shot on 5 August, my world fell apart. I rushed to the hospital and saw him in a bloody state. I cannot afford his treatment. The oppressive government may have fallen, but no one is looking at the lives of those who sacrificed for the cause. My son's future is now uncertain."
He called on the government to support those injured in the fight for democracy, urging them to take responsibility for their treatment and families.
Sumon's mother, Farida Khatun, expressing her anguish, said, "When my son is in pain, his cries break my heart. As a mother, I can't take him to a doctor despite hearing him suffer. There's no greater helplessness than this."
Local resident Arif remarked, "Sumon's family is extremely poor. He lost his job and is now suffering without treatment after being injured in the protests. People like him are the fighters of a new generation. While the freedom fighters of 1971 receive pensions and benefits, new-generation fighters like Sumon are left to struggle. I urge the government and the wealthy to take responsibility for individuals like him who are in such dire situations."
Speaking to The Business Standard, Sharmin Akhter, acting deputy commissioner of Kushtia, said, "The district administration has provided medical assistance to many injured, but Sumon's case hasn't been brought to our attention yet. If his family contacts us, we will certainly assist with his treatment and support his family."
