Chittagong University student Imtiaz Ahmed Sayem, who sustained severe head injuries during the August 31 clashes between the students of the university and villagers of Jobra, remained unconscious at a private hospital in Chattogram on Thursday.
Sayem, a master鈥檚 student of international relations at the university, was struck with sharp weapons during the violence. He underwent surgery and has been kept in the intensive care unit of Parkview Hospital since then.
The hospital鈥檚 specialised unit in charge Dr Sirajul Mostafa, said, 鈥業mtiaz suffered deep head injuries from sharp weapons that tore into his skull and blood vessels. He has not regained consciousness. Only his blood pressure has shown some improvement. His condition remains critical.鈥�
Sayem鈥檚 mother Shahnaz Amir and father Amir Hossain rushed from Bogura to Chattogram early Monday and have been keeping vigil outside the ICU.
Shahnaz Amir said, 鈥業 pray that Allah returns my son to me healthy and safe. His condition remains unchanged.鈥�
Another student, Mamun Mia, a final-year sociology undergraduate, was also seriously injured in the same incident. Surgeons removed 13 bone fragments from his skull during a four-hour operation.
Although his skull has been preserved in a freezer for future replacement, Mamun regained consciousness within 24 hours of surgery and is now in a cabin. His head bears a warning, reading 鈥楴o bone, do not press鈥�, a photo of which has circulated widely on social media.
Dr Mostafa said that Mamun was improving and that the skull could be replaced within two or two-and-a-half months if he remained stable. 鈥楬owever, it will take a long time for him to return to normal life.鈥�
The university administration on Thursday announced that all classes and examinations would resume on September 7, after nearly a week of suspension.
The university鈥檚 acting registrar, Professor Saiful Islam, said that the decision was taken after consultations with stakeholders to avoid session jams.
Meanwhile, a Chattogram Judicial magistrate court on Thursday rejected the bail applications of eight people arrested in the case filed over the clashes. Judicial magistrate Nazmun Nahar passed the order after a hearing, said Chattogram district court inspector Habibur Rahman.
The arrestees are Md Imran Hossain, 35, Hasan, 22, Rasel, 30, Md Alamgir, 35, Md Nazrul Islam, 30, Md Jahed, 30, Md Arman, 24, Didarul Alam, 46, all residents of Fathapur union.
On August 30, clashes began at the university about midnight when a first-year female philosophy student was allegedly assaulted by a building guard near Gate No 2.
Students rushed to the spot and soon clashed with the villagers of Jobra, injuring many.
The clash began again at around noon on August 31, and hours of fighting with sharp weapons left many more injured, including Chittagong University pro vice-chancellor (administration), proctor and several teachers.
Security forces intervened later in the day, and Section 144 was imposed in the surrounding areas and examinations were postponed.
Locals later placed seven demands, while the students called for justice and the resignation of top university officials.
On September 2, the university authorities filed a case against about 1,100 people, including 95 identified and about 1,000 unidentified people, in connection with the incident.
On September 3, the police arrested eight people in connection with the case.