"I was watching the news on TV in the morning, according to which a driver was killed and his assistant was injured when a bus caught on fire in Demra. But I still didn't know that it was my son who was injured in that fire. I got to know this news when the police called me around 10am."
Hazrat Ali, father of Rabiul, a survivor of recent arson attacks carried out across Bangladesh, recounted the heart-wrenching moment when he learned about his son's burn injuries.
Hazrat Ali, shared the challenges he is now facing in providing for his three daughters following the injury of his only son.
His son plays a crucial role in sustaining the family, and Hazrat Ali, due to his advanced age and physical limitations, now struggles to maintain his previous level of income.
While Rabiul is now undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, having sustained burns on 17% of his body, his father is passing his days in agony thinking about the future.
The incident in question occurred on October 29 when miscreants set fire to an Asim Paribahan bus in Demra at around 3 am. Two individuals, Naeem, 22, and Rabiul, 25, sustained burn injuries, resulting in Naeem's tragic death.
The Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute revealed that seven individuals, including Rabiul, were under treatment from October 28 to November 19 due to incidents related to BNP-Jamaat-called hartals, blockades, and arson in public transport.
The conditions of three out of the seven were critical. Along with Rabiul, the two others are rickshaw driver Jabbar, 45, who suffered 20% burns, and bus driver Sabuj Miah, 30, suffered 28% burns.
Other victims include bus supervisor Shaukat, 28, with 10% burns, a private job holder Biprajit, 20, with 7% burns, garment worker Hasan, 27, with 11% burns, and airport staff Manik Das, 45, with 5% burns.
The hospital doctors emphasized that each patient would need to undergo two to three surgeries, but the prospect of complete recovery remains uncertain.
According to the Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defense, from October 28 to Sunday, a total of 185 vehicles, including public transport, buses, trains, trucks, and CNG vehicles, were set ablaze across the country.
Dhaka experienced the highest incidence of such fires, predominantly at night. Till now, 3 people died in arson attacks.
No end to their struggle
Rusheda Begum, the wife of bus driver Sabuj Miah, spoke of the challenges her family faces with Sabuj being the sole breadwinner. She anxiously awaits updates on his condition and wonders how she will manage with their two children if her husband's recovery is prolonged.
While lying on the hospital bed, Sabuj Miah recounted the harrowing incident on November 5 when he was attacked while going to work during a BNP-Jamaat-called blockade.
Sabuj said: “I keep the bus in a garage a little away from home. On that day, I was going to Ashim transport. When the bus stopped next to my garage, I stood up to get off the bus. Meanwhile, a masked middle-aged man with a bag on his back threw a bottle in his hand along the way. As he was in front, he fell on the ground and his body caught fire. The bus driver fell into a canal in front of the bus. I don’t know what happened to the bus driver.”
In another bed, Rabiul, writhing in pain, talked about the severity of his injuries, particularly on his legs and arms, due to petrol burns.
He said: “I can't sleep due to pain even after taking medicine. The nurses said that the legs and arms of the body were badly burnt. Because of petrol burns, the wounds are very deep. It will take time to heal.”
Jabbar, a rickshaw driver injured in the Anabil bus fire on November 11, shared his plight, noting that his wife has been sick since giving birth to their children last year, and the family is grappling with financial challenges.
Now that he is also bed-ridden, sustaining burns on both legs during the incident, the uncertainty of their future grips the entire family.
Meanwhile, Hassan, 24, a garment worker injured in the same bus as Jabbar, recounted the panic and chaos when the bus caught fire.
“I was sitting on a seat in the middle of the bus that night. On the way, I felt a sudden heat under the bus. The bus caught fire within seconds. In a hurry, everyone was jumping down as best they could. I suffered burn injuries in both my legs while trying to get off quickly.”
On the other hand, Manik Das, an aircraft cleaner, suffered burns on the night of November 12 when miscreants set fire to a staff bus of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He sustained burns on his right hand and left leg during the incident.
In another bed, Biprajit, 20, a mechanic, talked about his grim fate. He suffered burn injuries when miscreants set fire to a covered van in Kaliganj on November 8.
He said nine to ten masked men stopped his company car in the morning when they were returning from Bogra.
As he tried to get down, his body sustained burn injuries. In a helpless state, he witnessed how the miscreants vandalized the car and let it burn down.
Biprajit is still undergoing treatment at the institute, with hopes of recovering from his injuries soon.
Multiple surgery required
Dr Tariqul Islam, a resident doctor at Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, highlighted a concerning trend among burn survivors, noting that a majority of them suffered injuries caused by petrol.
Emphasizing the severity of such burns, he explained that injuries from fire tend to be less severe than those inflicted by petrol.
While medication can often facilitate recovery from fire-related burns within a few days, treating petrol burns proves to be a more intricate process.
Dr Tariqul Islam underscored that each petrol burn victim typically requires two to three surgeries, with the extent of the procedures varying among individuals.
Failure to undergo the necessary surgeries may result in incomplete healing of the wounds, he added.
Mental trauma
Dr Samanta Lal Sen, the chief coordinator of the institute, shared insights into the critical condition of three out of seven individuals who fell victim to miscreants during public transport disruptions.
Most of these survivors sustained burns on their hands and feet, and Dr Samanta Lal Sen anticipated a prolonged healing period for their wounds.
He said: “Even after physical recovery, the mental trauma endured by burn victims can impede their return to normal life.”
The veteran medical professional stressed the importance of post-treatment mental counseling for these individuals, acknowledging the challenges faced by many, particularly day laborers, who may lack the resources for such support.
Consequently, he expressed concern that the psychological effects of the trauma could persist throughout their lives.
Free Service
Dr Samanta Lal Sen also acknowledged the government's efforts in providing free treatment for burn patients affected by the public transport disruptions during the blockade and hartal.
The initiative, administered through the Department of Social Services, commenced on November 15 and guarantees free medical services for patients throughout their treatment.
Khandkar Sirajam Munira, a social service officer at the Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, said that the program offering free medical services to patients had been in effect since November 15.
She said that the government will continue to provide medical services to the patients for the duration of their treatment.
