Limon Hossain, who lost a leg after being shot by the Rapid Action Battalion in 2011, has started his career as a teaching assistant at the Department of Law of Gono University in Savar.

The university authorities appointed Limon at the Department of Law on February 10.

While talking to The Daily Star today, Limon said, "I want to fight for people who are or have been in similar situation as me. I never thought of becoming a teacher. But after completing bachelors and masters, I realised that I need more knowledge in order to work as a human rights activist.

"So, I took up teaching as a profession," said Limon. "The teachers and students of my department always encourage me and it feels great to work where I was a student once," Limon went on.

He further stated his desire to work as a barrister alongside teaching.

Students and teachers of the department said they were proud of Limon.

"We believe that he will excel in his career as he is working hard," said Farah Iqbal, a senior lecturer of the department at Gono University.

Limon was born on January 15, 1995 at Shaturia village under Jhalakathi's Rajapur upazila.

His leg had to be amputated in 2011. Back then he was 16 and a student of grade XI at Kathalia PGS Technical Business Management School and College.

Limon completed SSC and HSC from the institution in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

Defeating all odds, the underprivileged but meritorious boy completed LLB in 2017 from Gono University, with assistance from Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury. He got LLM degree from Islamic University in Kushtia in 2019.

What Limon went through

A Rab team shot Limon, who used to work at a brick kiln to support his education, mistaking him for a notorious criminal. His injured leg had to be amputated. Rab personnel also had filed two cases against him on charges of carrying arms and preventing law enforcers from discharging their duties.

In the face of a long legal battle, the government finally on July 11, 2013, issued a gazette notification withdrawing the cases. Fifteen months later, he was cleared of all criminal charges.

Citizens, under the banner of 'Limoner Jonno, Jiboner Jonno' staged protest programmes demanding justice across the country.

Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), a non-government organisation, had provided him with a prosthetic leg free of cost. During the legal fight, Limon got backing of Human Rights Watch, National Human Rights Commission, Ain o Salish Kendra, and some other human rights organisations.

On April 10, 2011, Limon's mother Henora Begum filed an attempt to murder case with Jhalakathi Judge Court against six Rab personnel for shooting her son.

The case is now under investigation by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) although nine years have passed.

Expressing frustration, Limon said, "PBI is yet to submit its report although nine years have passed. I don't understand why PBI is taking so long."