United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday handed over appointment letters to 74 people from families of victims of enforced disappearances, murders and the July mass uprising. At a ceremony held at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Prime Minister personally handed appointment letters to 10 of the recipients. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the 74 recipients included  family members of victims of enforced disappearance and killing, as well as injured fighters and family members of those killed during the July mass uprising. Among those receiving appointment letters from the Prime Minister were Ishfaq Ahmed, brother of Iftekhar Ahmed Dinar; Moniruzzaman Hira, brother of Nuruzzaman Jony; Anan Hossain Noor, brother of Anwar Hossain Mahbub; Hasnain Reza, brother of Selim Reza Pintu; and Shammi Sultana, wife of Khaled Hossain Sohel. Recipients from the July uprising included visually impaired injured fighter Alal Ahmed, Md Abul Hossain, father of martyr Alvi; Zartaj Parvin, mother of martyr Ahnaf; injured fighter Kazi Saimum Siraj; and Mahbub Alam, brother of Israfil Islam. The recipients expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the appointments and demanded justice for those responsible for enforced disappearances and killings. The programme was conducted by Atikur Rahman Rumon, also the convener of Amra BNP Poribar. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, Deputy Press Secretaries Zahidul Islam Rony, Hasan Shiplu, Suzauddaula, Shahadat Shadhin, Assistant Press Secretaries AKM Nazmul Haque, Shahriar Pamir and Moksedul Momin Mithun of Amra BNP Poribar, among others, were present.

Kunming Eye Hospital, a private medical facility in China’s Yunnan province, has expressed its willingness to provide affordable treatment for those who suffered eye injuries during the July Uprising in Bangladesh. "You may have concerns about eye treatment for people injured in the July Uprising in your country. Our hospital can provide quality eye care for them at a reasonable cost," said Zhang Min, the CEO of Kunming Eye Hospital. Zhang made the remarks while talking to a group of Bangladeshi journalists who visited the hospital on Friday. The offer shows the hospital’s willingness to support treatment for the July Uprising victims and to strengthen medical cooperation between China and Bangladesh. The CEO said although it is a private hospital, it provides very good treatment and services at a low cost. "Our hospital is one of the best in Yunnan for eye treatment.”  She said they handle patients with serious eye problems and injuries, and perform major surgeries, including cornea replacements. Zhang said the hospital has 28 years of experience in providing quality eye care with skilled doctors, medical staff and very advanced equipment. Drone show stuns crowd marking July Uprising Day “Our doctors are experienced in treating foreign patients and can speak English fluently. So, Bangladeshi patients don’t need to worry about the language barrier,” she said. Zhang also said that Bangladeshis who want to get treatment at Kunming Eye Hospital can contact the hospital authorities by sending an email with details about their eye problems. “We’ll give you the feedback.” She said patients with critical eye problems from India, Russia, Korea, Japan and some neighbouring countries often receive treatment at their hospital. The Chinese government invited the 23-member media delegation as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bangladesh. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder is leading the Bangladesh delegation.  

The Ministry of Education has canceled its earlier order allocating quota for the families of those injured and martyred during the July 2024 uprising and issued a new directive. The new directive was issued on Monday. According to the new directive, for students from the families of those injured or martyred in the July 2024 uprising, one seat will be reserved per class, over and above the seats allocated through the lottery system for admission into government secondary schools. It also specified that the applicants must attach a certified copy of the relevant documents or gazette issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs when submitting their application and the original documents must be shown at the time of admission. The admission process will be completed after the relevant gazette issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs is duly verified. In cases where no candidates from the affected families are available, the vacant seat will be filled from the merit list, ensuring that no seats remain unfilled, it said. Govt to recruit 2,000 more doctors: Adviser Rizwana Referring to the matter, Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said this facility will be a one-time facility for the admission of family members of those injured and martyred in the July Uprising 2024 to schools. “It is being considered as part of the one-time assistance being provided to the affected families. It is in no way comparable to a quota,” she told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.

Mental health support will be provided to 10,000 students from 22 public and private universities, who were affected by violence during the July-August movement, under a joint initiative by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and UNESCO. Under the project titled 'Social and Mental Health Protection,’ efforts will be made to help students from selected universities in Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna regions return to normal life and fully focus on their education. It was stated at a project implementation committee (PIC) meeting held at the UGC conference room on Tuesday, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. UGC member Prof Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain presided over the meeting with participation of university teachers, student coordinators and UNESCO officials. DMP Commissioner orders urgent probe into July movement cases During the meeting, it was decided that counseling services would be provided based on students' needs, a framework for implementation would be developed within the current month, and student representatives from private universities would also be included in the initiative. Prof Hossain said students who joined the July-August revolution are suffering from severe trauma. "Providing counseling services is crucial to help them recover. Ensuring their mental well-being and building an environment of trust can help overcome this crisis," he said. Dhaka University Professor Mahjabeen Haque said many injured students are experiencing psychological distress. There is a risk of mental disorders among those who took part in the mass uprising, she said. Prof Haque said many students who participated in the mass uprising suffered severe injuries, losing limbs, eyesight, or facing other disabilities, leaving them anxious about their uncertain future. "A collective initiative is needed to address their trauma," she stressed. Anti-Discrimination Student Movement spokesperson Umama Fatema said public university students received some assistance, but private universities resumed classes and examinations soon after the movement without addressing trauma of the students. Gazipur Attack: One victim dies at DMCH She asked for giving importance to the mental health of private university students. Umama Fatema suggested providing financial assistance to poor students in the future, taking into account their economic and family condition. Student coordinator Tarekul Islam recommended extending the mental health support programme to colleges under the National University, as many students from these institutions were also injured in the movement.

The government has invited students and civilians injured during the July-August mass uprising to submit their medical expense claims for reimbursement if they received treatment at private hospitals. According to a press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID) on Friday, the injured must submit their applications and medical bills either to the Mass Uprising Special Cell or the civil surgeon offices in their respective districts. The required application forms are available on the special cell’s official website: www.musc.portal.gov.bd. Once submitted, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will review claims received by the special cell, while those submitted at civil surgeon offices will first be scrutinized by the respective civil surgeons before being forwarded to the special cell for final processing. Vandalism across Bangladesh to be resisted: Govt The reimbursement process follows a decision taken during a Health Services Division meeting on January 9, which focused on medical treatment for the injured and the distribution of health cards among them. The initiative is being implemented as per instructions from the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, which directed the special cell to facilitate the compensation process. The Mass Uprising Special Cell formally announced the reimbursement procedure in a notification signed by its head, Joint Secretary Mashiur Rahman, on Wednesday.

Amid outrage among injured patients from the July mass uprising at NITOR, a BNP delegation visited the hospital on Thursday and demanded that those who were critically wounded be sent abroad for proper treatment The party also called upon the government to quickly provide each victim of the movement with the promised financial assistance from the July Smriti Foundation. “We urge the government to immediately identify those who are in critical condition and cannot be treated in the country, and to send them abroad as soon as possible. In particular, those who have lost their sight or have injuries that cannot be treated here should be sent overseas for proper care,” said BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. Earlier, Salahuddin, along with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam, visited the hospital and spoke to the aggrieved patients. On Wednesday, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum was forced to leave the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) while visiting victims of the July uprising amid outrage. She was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook. Later, a group of protesters, injured during the July mass uprising and now undergoing treatment, blocked the road in front of NITOR, demanding proper care. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Salahuddin said, "We heard that the Health Adviser and the British High Commissioner came to this hospital but could not meet all the patients, which created resentment among them." He said the patients had informed them that, apart from treatment, they had not received any other support from the government. Read: Health Adviser Nurjahan leaves NITOR amid outrage “We understand that they need assistance beyond treatment. Many have said that they have not yet received the promised one lakh taka. We urge the government, which has taken responsibility, to provide this assistance to them as soon as possible,” the BNP leader said. He said their party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman provided Tk five lakh on Wednesday night and instructed them to visit the hospital in light of the evolving situation.   Salahuddin mentioned that they gave the money to BNP Health Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam to distribute among the wounded patients based on their needs.   He said that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other party leaders had visited the hospital and provided financial assistance to the victims of the July movement. Read more: Health Protection Act still pending since 2014: Health Adviser “We will continue this care and support from our party. If we are given the responsibility of running the country, we will take steps to rehabilitate the families of those who were killed and injured during the mass uprising,” the BNP leader promised. Salahuddin also questioned how the fascist Awami League and their cohorts can freely roam and think of doing politics in Bangladesh again after committing genocide.