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Published : 25 Aug 2025, 07:54 PM
Many injured during the July movement concealed their identities out of fear when they came to the National eye hospital, a doctor has told the International Crimes Tribunal.
Zakia Sultana Neela, assistant professor in the retina department of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, testified on Monday before tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
The case names three suspects: former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Of them, IGP Mamun has turned state witness.
Dr Zakia said patients began arriving at the hospital on Jul 17. “On the first day, five patients came, all struck by metallic pellets.”
Calling 18 Jul a “blood-soaked day”, she told the tribunal: “That day I had a scheduled operation. While I was inside the operating theatre, suddenly news came that many patients were arriving. They needed treatment immediately.”
Around 100 patients were admitted that day, with another 80 to 100 receiving primary treatment.
“In the afternoon, I saw a terrifying scene in the emergency ward. More than 100 injured patients, aged between 14 and 25. Some were holding one eye with one hand, some were holding both eyes with both hands. Their bodies were covered in blood,” she said.
Surgery began on 10 operation tables that day and continued until 10pm.
The following day showed a similar picture, with 80 to 100 patients admitted and surgery running from 8am until 10pm. “Most were pellet-injured, some had real bullet wounds,” she added.
According to Zakia, the injuries included corneal perforations, scleral tears, ruptured eyes, retinal damage, and internal haemorrhage.
She said 493 patients had permanently lost vision in one eye, 11 had lost vision in both eyes, 28 suffered severe visual impairment in both eyes, 47 had severe impairment in one eye, and 43 had moderate loss of sight in one eye.
Dr Zakia added that many patients concealed their true identities for safety. “Some gave nicknames, some provided false mobile numbers and national ID details. They were frightened and traumatised.”
With the court’s permission, she presented a PowerPoint file showing statistical data on the patients treated at the institute.
Alongside her, four others testified the same day: Dr Khair Ahmed Choudhury, director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital; Mohammad Idris, a street food vendor from Badda; Amena Akter, a student of Lakshmipur Government College; and Hasne Ara Begum from Cumilla.
Idris lost his son, a higher secondary student, while Hasne Ara lost her son, who worked as a bus driver.
