The exact number of those injured in the July-August Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is still unknown, but the process of listing the photos of injured is ongoing.
So far, 12,380 names have been added to the Ministry of Health's list. The final list is to be completed by February 7.
While the Gazette of the deceased was published on January 15, the Gazette for the injured has not yet been issued.
The list is now being updated with photos along with the necessary information for each name.
This information was provided by sources from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
According to the sources, a meeting was held on January 9 in the Ministry of Health to update the list and distribute health cards.
he meeting was chaired by the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Professor Dr Syedur Rahman.
Also present was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, who proposed adding photos to the list of injured individuals.
Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho pointed out that nearly 40% of the data for the injured is missing from the Health Department's Management Information System (MIS) server.
He requested that arrangements be made to add photos along with the names of the injured.
Professor Dr Syedur Rahman then instructed the Director of the MIS department to make special arrangements for uploading the photos.
Dr Shah Ali Akbar Ashrafi, Director of the MIS department, told Bangla Tribune that they have developed a system to update the data.
The injured individuals are being sent links via SMS to upload their photos and other necessary information.
The meeting also directed that the final list of the injured should be completed by February 7.
However, the Gazette for the 11,843 names of the injured, which was supposed to be published, has not yet been released.
In addition, the meeting decided to include photos on the health cards provided for the injured.
It was said that necessary information (photos, NID/birth certificate, blood type) will be collected from the injured via SMS and district committees.
The information will be used to prepare the Health Cards, which will then be issued by the Civil Surgeon Office.
The injured will receive free priority services in all government hospitals with these Health Cards.
Private hospital treatment costs to be paid by special cell
The government will reimburse the treatment costs for those who received treatment in private hospitals during the movement.
They need to submit their applications and bills to the Special Cell related to the movement or the relevant Civil Surgeon Office.
The bills will be sent for verification to the Health Department, and after verification, they will be sent back to the Special Cell for payment.
The Civil Surgeon Offices will also verify the bills before sending them to the Special Cell, which will process the payments as per the instructions of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
Previously, applications and bills had to be submitted to the Health Department.
During the meeting, Health Director General Professor Dr Md Abu Jafar raised concerns regarding delays in bill payments, which led to the decision to process the payments through the Special Cell.
Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to manage overseas treatment
The responsibility for sending seriously injured individuals abroad for treatment has now been transferred to the Special Cell related to the movement and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
However, the Health Department will assist with the rehabilitation and advanced treatment of the injured.
An official from the Health Department told Bangla Tribune that the July Movement Department, which will officially begin next month, will be under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
This department will handle the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.
The responsibility for overseeing treatment abroad has been transferred there because it requires follow-up care.
