Siddiqur released from hospital

Titumir college student Siddiqur Rahman, whose eyes were damaged in “police action” during a demonstration in Shahbagh in July, has been released from hospital today.

Siddiqur was undergoing treatment National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) in Dhaka and the hospital authorities released him around 12:30pm, NIO Assistant Professor Zahidul Ahsan Menon told The Daily Star.

Sheikh Farid, a classmate of Siddiqur, told The Daily Star that now Siddiqur will stay with him (Farid) and his (Siddiqur) nephew at a rented house in Khilkhet of the capital.

Siddiqur is expected to join at Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL), government’s pharmaceuticals company, as telephone operator on October 1, he said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim handed over the appointment letter to Siddiqur at a ceremony of the ministry on September 13. He has been appointed temporarily.

Siddiqur, a third-year student of political science, was critically injured during a demonstration of the students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges at Shahbagh on July 20.

The students of the colleges -- Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College – demonstrated at Shahbagh to press their seven-point demand that include announcement of their exam dates.

Siddiqur Rahman was flown to India for treatment on July 27 from the NIO and returned home on August 11 after undergoing an eye surgery.