Titumir College student Siddiqur hopes for ​a ​miracle

Doctors in Bangladesh had already informed Siddiqur Rahman that his right eye was beyond repair but they said there was still a chance that he may be able to see with his left eye, which responded to light once or twice. He was taken to Chennai's Sankara Nethralaya Hospital to see an eye specialist. But the Chennai doctors did not have any good news. They said Siddiqur had no chance of regaining his eyesight. But the third-year Titumir College student has not given up yet. Despite the doctors' depressing words, he has decided to undergo surgery. “He is hoping for a miracle,” his friend Sheikh Farid said. “If he gets back his eyesight, he can take care of his family.” Siddiqur, the youngest of five siblings, was seen as the one who would help his poor family see better days. Sankara Nethralaya doctors have said that the Titumir College student's left eye had been badly damaged alongside his right eye. Siddiqur was injured on July 20 when he took part in peaceful protests with students of seven government colleges, that had recently been affiliated with Dhaka University, demanding declaration of the exam schedule. His eyes were badly damaged when police charged batons and lobbed teargas at the students at Shahbagh. Police are investigating the incident although they claim the victim was blinded by stones or bricks, and not by a tear gas shell. The home minister said they would step in if police probe into the incident was not satisfactory. The government is footing the victim's medical bills, as ordered by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Siddiqur was flown to Chennai on July 27. After the doctors told him about his condition, he broke down in tears but later decided to undergo surgery. He told his friend Farid: “It would have been a different thing if I hadn't come here. But since I am here, I would like to have my eyes operated. “It will at least give me some solace. We have done everything we could and now the rest depends on luck. Let's get the operation done. What's meant to happen will happen.”The story was first published on the Bangla Tribune