Bed-ridden by road crash, cries for help

“The accident shattered all my hopes. It was my dream to improve our life through receiving education as I belong to an ultra poor family,” said a sobbing Hajera Akhter, lying bed-ridden following an accident on November 12.

Hajera Akhter, 13, daughter of Ayub Ali of Sirta Chaupara village in Mymensingh Sadar upazila, was a JSC examinee from local Char Sirta High School.

Ayub Ali is a mental patient for long.  

Hajera met the tragic accident in Char Kharicha Madrasa area on Mymensingh-Paranganj road as a battery run auto-rickshaw hit the rickshaw-van carrying her and her classmates Fatema Khatun and Anjuman Ara to their JSC examination centre at nearby Char Kharicha High School on November 12.

The rickshaw van skidded off the road and fell on the girls, injuring them. 

Local people rushed to the spot and took the three girls to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. 

Fatema and Anjuman were released from the hospital in the evening the same day while seriously injured Hajera had to remain hospitalised, family sources said. 

“Doctors released Hajera from the hospital after a week, saying that she should be taken to India as two bones of her backbone got serious fractures. Bed sores have developed in her back as she has remained bed-ridden for over a month,” said Hajera's elder brother Aynul Islam, a garment worker.

“We have already spent Tk 50,000 for her treatment. We had to sell our goats and hens and borrow money for the purpose. We cannot take her to India for treatment as it would need around Tk 6 lakh,” said Aynul.

“We have left everything to fate as we are too poor to arrange her treatment,” lamented the girl's mother Safia Akhter.

Mohammad Abdus Selim, headmaster of Char Sirta High School, said, “The girl belonging to an ultra-poor family was a good student but the accident has ruined her life. We have taken initiative to help the girl and urge affluent people to extend support as the treatment cost would be high.”