They were not related by blood, yet their friendship was one typified only by blood-brothers, developed in early years and cemented through their union as partners in business. The two childhood buddies are now struggling for their lives at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The unit received a total of three patients yesterday, including the two buddies Alamgir Hossain (42) and Lokman Hossain (38), after a brief reprieve from the continued communication blockades that marked the immediate past month.
The three were injured as their goods-carrying covered van was torched by pickets in Gazipur on Wednesday, the first day of the opposition-enforced non-stop blockade.
Alamgir and Lokman received burns covering 10% and 11% of their bodies respectively – not considered critical in medical terms – but doctors say their condition could prove otherwise since the flames had hurt their respiratory systems.
Hailing from Rangpur’s Kotowali region, the two had known each other since their childhood and come to Gazipur to do business together, said Saleha Begum, Alamgir’s wife.
“They were good friends and did business together. They would bring vegetables from Manikganj and sell them at Konabari.”
They chose the first day of the year to take their consignments of vegetables, thinking the auspicious occasion would save them from any eventualities on the streets.
“They were tired and went to sleep. Around 11pm when the van reached Safipur of Kaliakour, just one kilometre off Konabari, a group of pickets hurled a petrol bomb in their direction,” Saleha said.
They were jolted awake by the explosion and found themselves writhing in pain as the flames had engulfed them. Driver Moksed Ali, who also received a minor injury, continued to drive despite the attack and pulled off only after he was sure there was no more danger around.
Locals then came to their rescue and had an ambulance take them to DMCH, following the advice of doctors of a local clinic. They were admitted to the burn and plastic surgery unit early yesterday.
Abdul Halim, a nephew of Lokman, said the two families had no one but the injured two to take care of them.
“We don’t want justice. We want them to recover soon. Their families need them,” he said.
Doctors at the hospital released covered van driver Moksed after primary treatment.
