“I’m finished – they’d set me on fire. Come over quickly and spend some time with me. It’s too painful to bear!”
This was the phone conversation of Montu Pal with his wife, after he was admitted with major burn injuries to the burn and plastic surgery unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Montu, 37, a goldsmith by profession, suffered burns to 90% of his body in a blaze caused when the bus carrying him was doused with petrol, and lit on fire, by pickets on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the city’s Luxmi Bazar area.
He was going back home in Narayanganj from the capital’s Tanti Bazar area, but halfway through his journey, fell prey to the surprise arson attack landing him in hospital. He was still conscious when he made the call to his wife, borrowing a phone from a hospital attendant.
Sanju Rani Pal, Montu’s wife, who came to DMCH after getting the call, described in a tearful voice how the incident took place.
“He comes in Narayanganj after every three or four days, between his working days. Before he does, he lets me know of his coming, but that Sunday, we didn’t make any call. I was so sure he would have no trouble coming home.
“Usually he didn’t board buses while coming, but took trains instead. I don’t know what made him change his mind and get on board a bus this time, especially when there is a hartal. And the accident happened.
“I don’t know what to do if anything happens to him. He will probably recover but is still in a very critical condition. For now, I will have to stay a few days here and maybe even face some problems, but there’s nothing doing. He would be helpless without me.”
The childless couple, who saw their only child die four years ago, lived in separate places but Montu would always manage to visit his wife and in-laws periodically. His in-laws lived only several blocks away from their rented single-room apartment.
Son of late Bijoy Pal, Montu is the youngest of his siblings and hailed from Mirzapur of Tangail. His elder brother, Gurudas Pal, said, “I often told him to come and settle down in Mirzapur, but he wouldn’t listen. And now see what had happened.”
“Who will take responsibility for this family now? Already, Tk10,000 went into his first-night treatment alone. Who will bear all the expenses?
“It’s the responsibility of political leaders to refrain from enforcing such destructive strikes to the detriment of general people. They should solve their own problems and spare us the troubles of that,” Gurudas added.
Although Sanju Rani is hopeful her husband would be alright soon, doctors at the burn unit see little chances of him recovering from the injuries. Partha Sharothi Das, a burn specialist of DMCH, told the Dhaka Tribune that Montu “didn’t stand much of a chance” but efforts were on to give him the best possible treatment.
“Generally, patients with burns to upward of 15% of their bodies are treated in the wards. Montu was admitted with 90% burns and were transferred in the intensive care unit for advanced care.
“Critical burns are those that are received from blazes caused by petrol or gunpowder. However, we are trying our best to provide the best possible treatment to him,” he added.
