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Subject: Latest on Shariar Kabir



After Returning From Seeing Shariar Kabir

This noon (14th November 14, 2004) I went to see Mr. Shariar Kabir and his
injured comrade in arms- all being treated at ‘Metropolitan Hospital’,
Mahakhali. As you know Sharira and Mukul were brought to Dhaka by a private
helicopter on Friday noon, 12th November, 2004. Apu Singh, a dedicated
worker of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Kamiti, who received serious head injury was
immediately rushed to Dhaka in an unconscious condition on the same night by
an ambulance, and immediately admitted in Mahakhali Metropolitan Hospital.
Another ambulance followed carrying Sheikh Mizu and Kazi Biplob, which
arrived Dhaka early in the morning of Friday, 12th November, 2004- they were
also admitted in the same hospital.

I spend more than an hour with them talking to each of them individually and
with their relatives. I also talked to the hospital authority, which assured
me that everything possible would be done to save the lives of these
important men dedicated to human rights and relieve their agony. The
condition of Apu still remains a matter of concern. CT Scan was done
immediately after he had been admitted to the hospital. Though he is
responding to treatment, he is still in unconscious state being constantly
monitored in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The hospital source said that his
brain and nerve system is functioning normally. He has been placed under the
treatment of famous neurologist Dr. Rashiduddin ably aided by a team
neuro-surgeons including Dr. Barua. I talked to his elder brother reassuring
him that Apu is being taken good care of by the hospital. Dear Mukto-monas,
please join me praying for his speedy recovery. We need Apu very
desperately.

Sheikh Mizu also received a minor head injury; a pelvic bone has been
fractured. I talked to him intimately. In my presence, he was taken to a
diagnostic center for some further investigation including CT scan. Kazi
Biplob is also in good condition, and found him in good mood. He received a
minor injury on his right eyelids and on right forehead. Several stitches
have been administered. His collarbone has been dislocated, now set all
right. There is no fracture, but still have pain.

Kazi Mukul is improving rapidly. He received several injuries throughout his
body- but none is fatal. He had received terrible shock, needs complete rest
for several days. His knee-cup was hurt badly, though not fractured, and
being treated to set it all right. He was very pleased to see me, and we
talked to each other for some times.
Sharaiar was overwhelmed to see me, and said that it was sheer luck they
escaped death except Payel. He has received a severe injury on upper part of
his right leg. Yesterday an operation was done to fix a steel plate to set
his broken pieces together. Doctor hoped that this would set the pieces
joined together within a few days. And then another operation will follow to
fix the plate permanently. No other major injury he received, thank god. But
his whole body, as he said, received a terrible shock when the microbus was
rolling and rolling until it stopped on the field below the highway. This
has caused terrible pain over his entire body which still persisting. We
talked over many things including how on earth the accident of such severe
nature could take place, as northern Bengal roads are quite good and smooth.

According to his version of the accident, their vehicle was moving not less
than 80 km/hour on Saidpur high way bypass on way to Thakurgaon, when on all
a sudden a two-wheel motor bike with a person and another person on his back
(a girl?, according to Biplob) move into the middle of the road right in
front of their microbus. The driver in a desperate attempt to save the man
tried to over take the motorcycle, and on doing so it struck a concrete
light post. The vehicle, according to Shariar, jumped a few feet up and then
rolling on several times and finally stopped on the road side. Only Shariar
had full conscious, other instantly lost conscious. Thanks to the good
spirit of the village people who immediately rushed to the scene. They took
all of them to Saidpur hospital by rickshaws, a few kilometers away from the
place of occurrence. Payel was profusely bleeding. Unfortunately the
hospital is so poorly equipped that it could not meet the emergency of
accident of severe nature. The attending doctors did their best, but
helplessly said that they would not be able to give adequate medical
treatment. They however managed to provide ambulance to take them to
Rangpur. In spite of the earnest request on the part of the Saidpur hospital
authority to admit the injured ones, especially one who were in critical
condition like Apu, in Rangpur CMH, the CMH refused admission. Shariar
believed that perhaps because of the name of ‘Shariar Kabir’, they were
refused admission on the instruction of the higher authority.

The paper reports however said that accident took place as a result of rear
tier bursting. I myself don’t believe it- tire burst is not an unnatural
phenomenon. But I had not heard that it could cause rolling of automobiles
resulting such severe accident. Shariar also contested the story and
attributed it to ‘made in police’. Shariar further said, ‘my instinct
reaction was that the man on the motor-bike was trying to stop our vehicle
with the intention of collecting some money (chandabazi); but then I
realized, it must not be so, as our vehicle was displaying ‘the sign of
journalism’ (Sangabadik). It must be for some other reason.’ He smelled some
conspiracy, a preplanned design on the part of the interested circle to
eliminate him. I cannot pass any opinion on his contention. Facts are not
available to us to establish it. But I cannot rule it out either. Some of us
might die in accident, some in cross-fires, some in bomb blasts while seeing
a good cine picture or attending nava-barsa function, or may meet
heart-failure, who knows. Only the oporwala can save us, as Khaleda-Nizami
government did not take the responsibility of saving 120 million
Bangladeshis from such accidents.

Ajoy Roy
November 14, 2004





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