After a brief respite of couple of weeks, the air at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) once again is getting heavy with the sufferings of new petrol bomb victims.
Of the four people admitted to the burn unit in the last 48 hours, one victim succumbed to his injuries while being treated.
The deceased, Md Yousuf, 67, a freedom fighter and a truck driver in profession, received 25% burn injuries to his face and respiratory system when his vehicle came under attack in Feni early yesterday.
He died at around 9:30pm last night.
Hailing from Kakiarchar area of Comilla, Yusuf was the sole breadwinner of his 6-member family.
Yousuf along with helper Abul Hossain, 40, and three others fish traders - Wasim, 28, Rabiul Rokon, 24 and Rabiul – were going to Pashurhat area of Feni from Nishshar of Comilla with a fish-laden truck. When their truck reached Dagonbhuiyan area of Feni, some miscreants threw petrol bomb at the vehicle leaving the five injured.
Yousuf was rushed to DMCH while the others were taken to local Utaitoli Government Hospital.
Abul Foysal, officer in-charge of Dagonbhuiyan police station, said the truck came under attack at around 3:30am. Police was yet to trace the culprits, he added.
Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon of the burn institute, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the condition of Yousuf, when he was admitted, was critical as his respiratory system was badly injured.
“A total of 172 victims were treated at the hospital so far and presently 27 are undergoing treatment,” said Partha adding that 15 victims had died while being under treatment.
Earlier on Thursday, three more firebomb victims, who came under attack in Chandpur were admitted to DMCH burn institute.
The victims were truck owner Khandokar Sharif, 40, truck helper Rubel Hossain, 20 and truck cleaner Khorshed Alam.
Rubel and Khorshed received 25% and 35% burn injury respectively.
According to them, the truck, loaded with paper roll, was going to Khulna from Chittagong port on Wednesday night. When the truck reached near the Chandra intersection of Chandpur at around 1am, several petrol bombs were hurled at them.
Truck driver Jahangir Hossain, 35, died on the spot while the three others sustained injuries.
Among the injured, the condition of Sharif, who received 88% burn injury, was stated to be critical and was undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the burn institute.
Md Azad, brother-in-law of Sharif, told the Dhaka Tribune that Sharif had a family of six, who all were dependent on him.
“Due to the blockade and hartals, no truck drivers would want to go out. But Sharif had to provide for his family. Who knew that the destiny would put him on a hospital bed,” Azad said.
