ছবি: Photo: Collected
Injured protestors from national uprisings will soon be issued unique ID cards, which will enable them to access lifelong, free medical treatment at government hospitals across the country, according to Dr. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor. During a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Rahman assured a delegation representing the injured that all benefits will be secured once the ID cards are issued. Dedicated beds will be arranged in government hospitals, and provisions for advanced treatment abroad will be made if necessary.
Dr. Rahman explained that all injured individuals will receive free medical services at government facilities, and the government will bear partial or full treatment costs at select private hospitals with government contracts. Additionally, previously incurred medical expenses may be reimbursed upon submission of proper documentation. Specific support, including education and training, will be provided to those who have lost their vision, ensuring a livelihood for them and their families. Those who have suffered disabilities will receive medical and rehabilitative care to the fullest extent possible.
Nahid Islam, Information and Broadcasting Advisor, stated that a short-term plan for medical treatment and rehabilitation of the injured will be implemented by December, followed by long-term initiatives. He acknowledged the state’s numerous challenges but emphasized that the highest priority is given to those injured or martyred in the uprisings. Addressing misunderstandings from previous engagements, Islam clarified that government officials had met formally and informally with the injured and will continue to coordinate.
Islam appealed to political parties to support the cause of aiding the injured and families of the martyrs, stressing that national unity is crucial at this time. He criticized the tendency to politicize the issue, which has created distrust and diverted focus from supporting the injured.
The meeting was chaired by Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum and included participation from Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar, ICT Advisor Nahid Islam, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Social Welfare Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid, and Advisor Mahfuz Alam, among others.
Prior to the meeting, injured individuals—many of whom require wheelchairs or have eye bandages due to their injuries—staged a protest outside the National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in Agargaon. They demanded the resignation of health officials, voicing frustration at unaddressed needs. In response, four government advisors and an assistant minister arrived to offer assurances of action on their demands. Following their promise of a structured plan by December, the injured returned to the hospital around 3:15 AM.
The advisors expressed regret for previous misunderstandings and committed to providing two vehicles to transport the injured delegation to the Ministry for further discussions. They outlined a framework for treatment and rehabilitation, pledging to implement the plan by December.
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