July uprising fighter Hridoy dies with bullet in his head

A teenage boy, who sustained bullet injuries to head during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, has passed away.

He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Bauphal upazila health complex in Patuakhali district on Friday (April 4).

The deceased was identified as Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, 17, son of Ansar Hawladar of west Jouta village in Bauphal.

According to family members, Hridoy had been working in Dhaka and was shot in head on July 18, 2024, during the July uprising in the capital’s Jatrabari area.

He had been undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors removed two of the three bullets pierced into his head through surgery.

However, one bullet remained inside the head and it was not possible to extract from the head.

On Friday (April 4) noon, Hridoy was rushed to Bauphal Upazila Health Complex after he fell critically ill on April 2.

On-duty doctors there referred him to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, but it was not possible to take him to the hospital due to financial crisis. He died around 4 pm.

With tearful voice, Hridoy’s father Ansar Hawladar said, “I tried my best to ensure better treatment for my son, even selling my rickshaw and a cow. If treatment abroad had been arranged, my son might have survived. Hridoy died due to lack of proper treatment.”

Bauphal Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. A. Rouf said, “Hridoy was brought to the hospital around 12 pm. His condition was critical. We referred him to Barishal, but we could not take him to the hospital in time. He died at 4 pm.”