Four Wounded July Fighters attempted suicide by consuming poison

Four July Warriors, who are undergoing treatment at the national eye hospital, ingested poison on Sunday noon over frustrations at the government’s delays in ensuring their modern treatment and rehabilitation.

The four injured participants of the July uprising - Shimul, Maruf, Sagar, and Akter Hossain alias Abu Taher – were immediately admitted to the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, where the physicians managed to stabilise their health conditions.

Dr Khair Ahmed Choudhury, director at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, confirmed the incident, when talking with reporters. According to hospital sources, on Sunday noon, a discussion was going on at Dr Khair’s office between the hospital director and July Smrity Foundation’s CEO.

At one point, four July Warriors, who were undergoing treatment for eye-related complications at the hospital, entered the office room to present their two demands: swift modern treatment facilities and proper rehabilitation.

The July Smrity Foundation’s CEO asked the four youths to wait outside, inevitably enraging them further. Without prior notice, the four drank the poison with them on the spot.

Other July Warriors seeking treatment at the hospital told reporters that the government has not ensured modern treatment and rehabilitation for the injured despite repeatedly pledging to do so for over nine months.

No reasonable service can be obtained from the government peacefully, and street movements have become essential for pressing home demands, they alleged.

The political parties are also not concerned about the injured uprising victims, and are only busy in securing their own interests, the July Warriors alleged, referring to leaders from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP and Gono Odhikar Parishad, among others.