A careless glimpse of a boy, with silken hair, moving around beds in a hospital ward, chatting with patients and their attendants suggests that he could be just another visitor.
But a careful watch would show that he struggles at every step. Each聽movement in the left leg reminds him that a bullet had hit him in the evening on July 19, 2024 at Mirpur 2 in Dhaka.
It was when clashes with the law enforcers broke out heavily some hours before a curfew was ordered to quell the students who had taken to the streets since July 1, 2024 seeking reforms in civil service job reservations.
The student protests flared up into a mass uprising later that month, toppling the Awami League government on August 5. At least 834 people died and 12,032 became injured in the uprising.
Md Rabiul, aged 12, has since been spending most of his time in the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation learning to cope with a changed life.
There are, like him, at least 236 others in hospital recovering from the injuries that they had sustained in the July鈥揂ugust uprising.
And, Eid-ul-Fitr which people would celebrate on either March 31 or April 1, subject to moon sighting, brings them no joy and celebrations but pain and uncertainty.
鈥業 will not go shopping,鈥� said Rabiul, with a face devoid of expression. His mother, standing by him, said on March 27 that Rabiul had always been excited about Eid shopping, from clothes to sunglasses. This year, he refused to buy anything.
鈥榃e tried to make him understand. He won鈥檛 listen,鈥� his mother said with a tinge of sadness.
She hopes to take Rabiul home on Eid day but he still cannot fold the left leg. He will need a surgery when he turns 25.
Some being cared for at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, or NITOR, on March 27 said that they would spend Eid in hospital. Some would go home. Some have already been discharged.
鈥榃e have discharged some who no longer need to be in hospital.聽Patients with Ilizarov fixators or under watch are still in,鈥� NITOR鈥檚 director Abul Kenan said.
The uprising has impacted many, leaving them to grapple with strained relationship, physical and mental health challenges and issues within families and social circles.
Abdul Khalek, shot in the left eye at Rampura in the morning on August 5, is not going home in Bhola this Eid. His family is critical of his joining the protests and losing an eye.
He feels neglected. 鈥業 don鈥檛 even feel it鈥檚 Eid.鈥� He would, rather, go to the place where he was shot to reconcile with what happened.
Abdul Khalek, who used to support his family with his earning off his tile works, can no longer do so. He remains pensive.
Yet, many have bonded with fellow patients against all the odds in hospital.
Yasin, aged 16, was shot in the eye and the head with 30 rubber bullets at Baipail of Savar on August 3. He lost an eye. 鈥業 don鈥檛 feel like going home at Savar,鈥� leaving behind his fellow victims in the hospital.
鈥楾hey are my family now,鈥� Yasin said. 鈥楽ometimes, I go blank when I think of all that I鈥檝e been through. My fellows here help me get over it.鈥�
Abu Bakkar Siddik, aged 17, another victim from Rangpur who lost his right eye, said that he might not go home. 鈥業鈥檓 treated like a human here. Outside, some mock me. Some call me deaf. They say I would go begging.鈥�
NITOR had, as of March 27, 110 victims being treated, the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital 55, the Bangladesh Medical University 46, Combined Military Hospital 15, Dhaka Medical College Hospital 5, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed 3 and the National Institute of Neuro Sciences and Hospital 3, said Nahida Bushra, convener of the central health subcommittee of the Students against Discrimination.