Sniper Attack Survivor Junaid Seeks Justice and Rehabilitation

During the anti-discrimination student movement on July 18 last year, Gazi Md. Junaidur Rahman, a second-year Alim student at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Tongi, was critically injured by sniper fire at the BNS Center in Uttara. After undergoing three surgeries, doctors successfully removed a bullet from his abdomen. However, the ordeal left his right hand severely damaged, with torn tendons rendering three fingers non-functional, requiring ongoing therapy. Junaid continues to endure excruciating pain daily.

Junaid has called on the government to swiftly bring to justice those responsible for the indiscriminate shooting of students and civilians, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom he accuses of fascist governance, along with those who issued the orders. He demands comprehensive rehabilitation for those injured in the July protests, including medical support, employment opportunities, and official recognition of their sacrifices.

Recounting the incident to The Daily Campus, Junaid described the backdrop of the movement. On July 16, following the killing of Abu Sayeed by police gunfire at Begum Rokeya University, protests spread nationwide. On July 18, Junaid and others were peacefully chanting slogans at the BNS Center in Uttara when police began firing rubber bullets, pellets, and sound grenades. The situation escalated as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police snipers opened fire, turning the scene into a battlefield. Junaid alleges that countless sniper rounds were fired that day. “A bullet pierced my right hand and exited,” he said. “Another entered below my chest and lodged in my abdomen. It felt like fire coursing through my body.” The horrific scenes of that day still haunt him, with images of his peers collapsing on the streets. Comrades rushed him to Kuwait-Maitree Hospital, and due to his critical condition, he was transferred to Kurmitola General Hospital, where, after three surgeries, the bullet was removed. Doctors at the military-controlled hospital confirmed it was a sniper round typically used by the BGB at borders.

On August 3, Sheikh Hasina visited the injured at Kurmitola Hospital. Junaid recalled her asking, “How are you, my dear?” He found it deeply ironic, noting, “The one who ordered the shooting was asking about my condition—a cruel mockery.” During the visit, a government official questioned him, asking, “Did you come from Tongi to Uttara for a spectacle?” Reflecting on his recovery, Junaid expressed gratitude to the Tamirul Millat Trust and leaders of the Islamic Chhatra Shibir, particularly Masum Billah, the then-president of its West Organizational Branch, who arrived at the hospital within 30 minutes. Leaders from Tamirul Millat’s Tongi branch, including its former president Abdullah Al Minhaj, provided unwavering support, overseeing his treatment and ensuring all necessary assistance. Junaid remains deeply moved by their selfless service and organizational dedication, which left an indelible mark on his heart.

Junaid, the son of a farming family from Haripur village in Fulchhari, Gaibandha, carries the weight of his experience. His father, Anisur Rahman, condemned the violence, stating, “Under Sheikh Hasina and her allies’ orders, our children were shot like birds. As long as I live, I want to see this fascist regime face justice.”