Death toll reaches 197 as CU student dies under treatment

Till Tuesday, reports indicate that 197 people have died in clashes across the country, including in Dhaka. Among the latest casualties is Chittagong University (CU) student Hridoy Chandra Tarua, 22, who succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was shot in Chittagong last Thursday. Another person died at Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar.

Eight additional deaths were reported yesterday. This includes five at the Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital and two at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka. Another death occurred at Savar's Enam Medical College Hospital.

These reports were gathered from hospitals, individuals who brought in the bodies, and relatives of the deceased. Comprehensive information from all hospitals is not yet available.

According to available data, six people died on 16 July (Tuesday), 41 on Thursday, 84 on Friday, 38 on Saturday, 21 on Sunday, five on Monday, and two on Tuesday. The deaths on Monday and Tuesday occurred while the individuals were undergoing treatment.

Sources at the Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital reported that 17 injured persons were admitted on 19 July (Friday), with three fatalities on that day. On 20 July (Saturday), 10 more were admitted, with two deaths occurring the same day.

When asked about the total number of deaths and injuries, the home minister only provided figures for the police and ansar members. Speaking to the media on Friday night, Shafiur Rahman, director of Dhaka's Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, stated that while it was difficult to ascertain the exact number of bodies brought in, it would exceed 10. The next day, he confirmed another death.

A visit to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital yesterday revealed a total of 13 bodies had been brought in, an increase from the previously recorded 11. Shafiur Rahman mentioned that conducting autopsies had been challenging due to the situation.

In the meantime, readymade garment factory worker Shubho Shil, 24, died at Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar yesterday morning. He had been admitted on Saturday. Another individual, Faruk, 45, admitted with bullet injuries on Sunday, also died yesterday. He was a resident of Savar. The superintendent of Enam Medical College Hospital, Md. Yusuf, confirmed the deaths.

No official account of the total number of deaths and injuries is available. While visiting injured police officers at the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital on Monday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan stated that three police officers and one ansar member were killed in the violence, with 1,117 police officers injured, 132 of whom are in critical condition, and three are in the ICU.

At a press briefing at his residence on the same day, the home minister reiterated the figures for police and ansar members but did not provide a total count of civilian casualties.

The Bangladesh Ansar and VDP public relations wing reported yesterday that ansar member Md. Jewel Sheikh, 22, from Modhukhali, Faridpur, attached to the Motijheel police station, had been killed. His death had been previously recorded.

Hospital sources indicate that the deceased include infants, children, students, youth, and women, with most bodies showing bullet wounds. Some had died from injuries, and many injured individuals had been hit by bullets and rubber bullets in various parts of their bodies.

The CU student Hridoy, who died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College yesterday, was from Patuakhali. His fellow students reported that he was returning from giving tuition when he was caught in the clashes and shot. Hridoy was the only son of Ratan Chandra Tarua and Archana Rani. His father, a carpenter, expressed his sorrow, stating that he had many dreams for his son, who was expected to help the family after completing his studies. "But one bullet put an end to all those dreams," he said.

Clashes erupted nationwide on 16 July, centered around the quota reform movement. The agitation spread, with most clashes occurring in and around Dhaka.

On 17 July, mobile internet was shut down across the country, followed by a broadband internet shutdown the next day. A nationwide curfew was declared from 12:00 midnight on 19 July, and the armed forces were deployed.