A group of victims of the student-led mass uprising in July and August on Tuesday staged a sit-in in Dhaka to press home their demands including lifetime treatment facilities, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities.
They staged the demonstration under the banner of 鈥楩amilies of Injured and Martyrs鈥� at Shahbagh in the city for four hours since 12:00 noon.
Nisar Uddin, who was shot in the right leg on July 19 in the capital鈥檚 Banasree, presented their demands during the demonstration.
Their other demands include the speedy trial of those involved in the July-August massacre, state recognition of the uprising victims, ensuring their safety through the formation of a 鈥楽afety Act,鈥� abolishing government-created categories for injured individuals based on the severity of injuries, and involving the victims in discussions or decisions concerning their affairs.
Md Sajib, a fourth-year student of Dhaka College who was injured on August 4 in Chandpur鈥檚 Hajiganj, said that he lost his job as an information technology consultant for a US-based firm in July due to the countrywide internet shutdown.
He recounted how he and another injured individual, Farhad, were followed and the rickshaw carrying them was struck by a car on their way to the Dhaka Civil Surgeon鈥檚 office after a protest at the National Press Club on January 23.
Sajib emphasized the need to ensure the safety of participants and victims of the uprising.
The victims also stressed the need for treatment and counseling for mental health, as many are still suffering from trauma.
Injured CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Rajib Hossain鈥檚 mother Mukta Ara Begum and victim Yakub鈥檚 grandmother Jubaida shared the sufferings they were facing as Rajib and Yakub were their respective families鈥� loan bread earners.
Since November 13, 2024, victims of the uprising repeatedly took to the streets to press home their demands, following the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus assuming power on August 8, 2024, three days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 authoritarian regime on August 5, 2024.聽
According to government data, 834 people were killed and 11,551 injured during the mass uprising.
The government is still updating the data.