Two Jahangirnagar University campus journalist, who received pellet injuries during July movement, are preparing to go abroad for better treatment.
They are Mehedi Mamun, a postgraduate student of English department and JU campus correspondent at Daily Bonik Barta, and Abdur Rahman Sarjil, of media and journalism studies department and university correspondent at Dainik Bangla.
Mamun was injured in police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement at JU and treated for a long time in different hospitals to remove 50 pellet from his body. But all pellets could not be retrieved, causing tormentous pain for him. The doctors advised him to go abroad for better treatment.
Sarjil, also received about 50 pellets in his body, became incapacitated because of severe physical pain.
Recalling the horrific time, Mamun said that a protest rally was scheduled on July 15 evening on JU campus as part of nationwide protest of anti-discrimination student movement. But the armed leaders and activists of Chhatra League JU unit attacked on their procession. Later, police detained some protesters.
鈥楢s a journalist, I was holding the identity card. But suddenly when the general students came to rescue the confined protesters, police started indiscriminate firing. They also shot me without any instigation. At least fifty metallic pellets hit my body,鈥� he said.
鈥業 tried to stand beside the unarmed students on that day. Some of my colleagues also came under attack of police and BCL. We joined the procession out of our democratic spirit. We didn鈥檛 think about the danger,鈥� he added.
Mehedi had a major operation in July when at least 20 pellets were removed.
Sarjil said that he was injured when police fired indiscriminately on general students in front of vice-chancellor residence in the midnight on July 15.聽
鈥楢round 70 pellets hit my leg and all over the body. I laid down there. Even after knowing our journalistic identity, police didn鈥檛 spare us,鈥� he said.聽
Regarding the contribution of journalists in the movement, Towhid Siam, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement of JU unit, said that while some media brokers were flattering Sheikh Hasina, some brave journalists presented the truth before the nation.
鈥楬owever, we are somehow disappointed as contribution of journalists is not being acknowledged properly. We hope that bravery of our campus journalists will be mentioned when the history of the July mass uprising will be written,鈥� he said.
JU pro-vice-chancellor (administration) professor Sohel Ahmed said that campus journalists of JU played a very praiseworthy role in the movement as student and journalist as well.
JU pro-VC (education) professor M Mahfuzur Rahman said that many journalists across the country performed their duties fearlessly in the July-August movement.
鈥楾he university authorities have taken initiative to provide medical assistance to all journalists and students injured in the movement,鈥� he said.