SUST student returns to campus with 75 splinters remaining in body

Sajal Kundu, a student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) who received splinter injuries in his body during a police attack on Janaury 16, returned to the campus on February 17 after undergoing treatment in Dhaka.

Under the supervision of the Prime Minister's office, Sajal, a student of anthropology department, underwent a surgery on his right hand at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University where four of his splinters were removed from his body, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting Sajal.

But a total of 75 splinters could not be removed from his body.

He expressed his anger for not complying with their demands as of today despite the assurance of Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and demanded that their demands are met including the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed immediately.

In a written statement, he said that the doctors have told him that he will have to spend the rest of his life with these splinters in his body and the doctors fear that new physical complications may arise in the future due to those splinters.

"Despite verbal assurances from the education minister to give me a job, I have not received any clear assurance about my future medical expenses and one-time financial compensation. My father and mother are sick and we do not belong to a well off family...," he said.

Demanding clear assurance for a job from the education minister that she pledged earlier, Sajal asked, "Who will take responsibility for what I have been enduring now? How will I pass my future hardship days in the face of unbearable physical pain with numerous injuries and splinters all over my body?"

Following the assurance of the education minister, protesting students of SUST suspended their oust-VC movement on February 12.

On January 16, police charged truncheons, shot rubber bullets and blasted sound grenades on campus to disperse protesting students who confined the VC inside an academic building.

At least 40 students including Sajal, several teachers and policemen were injured.

Students started a movement demanding the resignation of the VC after the police action that day.