Shattered hopes, and a massive burden

His family left no stone unturned to save his life, but it all went in vain as Abul Kalam Azad succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday at DMCH after a month and a half into a fateful road accident, leaving his family reeling not just from his loss but also a huge financial burden.

Azad, 45, a salesman of a cosmetic shop in Jashore was critically injured on April 4, when his motorbike was hit from behind by a bus -- allegedly belonging to Shohag Paribahan -- at Bhatar Amtola of the district, while returning home.

His nephew Oli Ullah, who was on the pillion, died on the spot, while Azad was taken to a local hospital immediately in critical condition, said Rashed Ullah Chowdhury, Azad’s cousin.

“We took him to Apollo Hospital afterwards, followed by Japan-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and then Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the last one month to save his life,” he said, adding that since the accident Azad remained unconscious, and did not regain consciousness even for a minute.

Though his family had no money to bear his treatment cost as his monthly income was only Tk 6,000, they spent around Tk 15 lakh with the help of locals, relatives and mostly by taking loans. “But all our efforts have gone in vain,” said Rashed.

Now Azad’s family -- his homemaker wife and two school-going sons -- are left with hundreds of thousands in loan.

Authorities of Shohag Paribahan visited Apollo Hospital during his treatment and DMC Morgue after his death, and gave around Tk 80,000 to his family, said Rashed.

General manager of Shohag Paribahan Nasir Uddin claimed the motorbike was not hit by their bus directly, rather it hit something else before colliding with the bus.

Police seized the bus, and the driver is on the run after the accident. Family members received the body from the morgue after autopsy yesterday.