Injured protesters of the July movement have been staging a continuous 28-hour sit-in in front of the main gate of the chief adviser’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, demanding the fulfillment of their one-point demand.
Initially, they called for medical treatment and rehabilitation, but they have now remained steadfast in their demand for a revised classification system for injured individuals.
Their key demand is to replace the existing three-category system with only two categories for those injured in the July Movement.
The sit-in began at 9am on Wednesday.
As of 1pm on Thursday, approximately 30 to 35 protesters were seen peacefully demonstrating in front of the office, chanting slogans.
Senior police officials visited the scene in the morning and attempted to persuade the protesters to leave.
“I have been here since Wednesday morning, despite pressure from various sources to leave,” said Yakub Ali, one of the injured protesters.
He added: “We will not move until our demand is met.”
The demonstrators said they spent the night under the open sky and that more injured individuals from different districts were en route to join them in Dhaka.
They expect a larger gathering by the afternoon.
Regarding their demand, multiple protesters at the sit-in alleged that the government’s classification system was discriminatory.
They pointed out that many individuals who had suffered gunshot wounds were placed in Category C, which they considered unfair.
As a result, they are demanding a two-category system instead.
The demonstrators have vowed to continue their protest until their demand is met.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has officially registered 13,848 individuals injured in the July-August anti-discrimination student movement and categorized them into three groups for assistance, treatment, and rehabilitation.
On February 9, in a meeting chaired by the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, these classifications were revised and guidelines were issued for their implementation.
Revised categories
Category A (Severely Injured) requires lifelong assistance (loss of eye/limb, full blindness, severe mental disorder).
With one-time aid of Tk5 lakh, monthly Tk20,000.
Category B (Severely Injured) are those who need long-term support (partial blindness, severe brain injury).
With one-time aid of Tk3 lakh, monthly Tk15,000.
Category C (Recovering Injured) are expected to regain normal functionality with no direct financial aid but priority on rehabilitation and employment.
Liberation War Affairs Adviser Faruk-e-Azam announced Tk30 lakh savings certificates for each martyr’s family and lifelong identity cards, allowances and medical benefits for injured protesters.
Protesters argue this three-category system is discriminatory, particularly against Category C, and demand a two-category system.
