Savar (Dhaka) Correspondent

Mehedi Mamun, a postgraduate student at the department of English of Jahangirnagar University (JU) and campus correspondent at Daily Bonik Barta, is preparing to go abroad for better treatment with a hope to get recovery from around 50 pellet injuries received during July movement.

He was injured in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Jahangirnagar University and was treated for a long time in different hospitals in the country.

But all pellets in his body could not be retrieved causing tormentous pain for him. The doctors advised him to go abroad for better treatment.

Abdur Rahman Sarjil, a student of Media and Journalism Studies department and university correspondent of Dainik Bangla, also received about 50 pellets in his body. Sometimes he became incapacitated because of severe physical pain.

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) played one of the leading roles during the student movement against the dictatorial government ignoring all fears.

With professional zeal students cum journalists of Jahangirnagar University actively participated in the uprising.

Working journalists in the campus had to face endless intimidation from the Chhatra League and the pro-AL administration while performing their professional duties.

But they did not stop and covered all news of the movement by staying on the front line and constantly providing the agitators with different information.

JU journalists were the first to be injured as they were on the front lines when students were attacked by the Chhatra League activists and the police on July 15 midnight.

During that terrible night, Chhatra League activists attacked agitating students in front of the vice-chancellor residence, injuring many students and journalists.

At that time Mehedi Mamun and Abdur Rahman Sarjil were fatally injured by teargas and pellets of shotgun fired by police. They have not yet been recovered even after taking long treatment.

Recalling that horrific time Mehedi Mamun said, a protest rally was scheduled on July 15 evening as part of nationwide protest of anti-discrimination student movement. But the armed leaders and activists of BCL JU unit attacked on their procession. The protesters staged a sit-in programme in front of VC residence demanding justice. BCL leaders and activists attacked them again together with the armed outsiders.

“As a journalist, I was there holding the identity card. But suddenly when the general students came to rescue the confined protesters, police started indiscriminate firing. Police also shot at me with gun without any instigation. At least fifty metallic pellets hit my body,” Mehedi said.

“I tried to stand beside the unarmed students on that day. Some of my colleagues also came under attack of police and BCL. We joined the procession out of our democratic spirit. We didn't think about the danger,” he added.

Mehedi said he had a major operation in July when at least 20 pellets were removed. Treatment is still going on. Doctors prescribed him to go abroad for better management.

Abdur Rahman Sarjil said, he was injured when police fired indiscriminately on general students in front of Vice Chancellor residence in the midnight on July 15.

“Around 70 pellets hit my leg and all over the body. I laid down there. Even after knowing our journalistic identity, police didn’t spare us,” he said.

Later Sarjil was admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar and received treatment there for five days.

Regarding the contribution of journalists in the movement, Towhid Siam, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement of JU unit, said, "Journalists have an undeniable role in the movement.

“While some media brokers were flattering Sheikh Hasina, some brave journalists presented the truth before the nation,” he said adding that common people came in appreciation of the students after successful culmination of the movement.

Siam said they demanded the university authority to provide medical assistance for all injured students including journalists.

"However, we are somehow disappointed as contribution of journalists is not being acknowledged properly,” he said.

“We hope that bravery of our campus journalists will be mentioned when the history of the July mass uprising will be written,” he hoped.

JU Pro-VC (Administration) Prof. Sohel Ahmed said, campus journalists of JU played a very praiseworthy role in the movement as student and journalist as well. Their role played an important role in establishing the democratic values in the campus.

JU Pro-VC (Education) Professor, Dr. M. Mahfuzur Rahman said, many journalists across the country performed their duties fearlessly in the July-August movement.

"The university authorities have taken initiative to provide medical assistance to all journalists and students injured in the movement," he said.