Published on 06:27 PM, August 05, 2017

Siddiqur perceives little light on left eye: Doctors

Doctor says it’s a good sign

Titumir college student Siddiqur Rahman, whose eyes were damaged in “police excess” during a demonstration in Shahbagh on July 20. File photo

Injured college student Siddiqur Rahman perceives little light after the bandage of his left eye was removed today following the latest surgery at Sankara Nethralaya in India's Chennai, doctors said.

Zahidul Ahsan Menon, assistant professor of National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka, who is accompanying Siddiqur, told The Daily Star that “He is telling about little light perception on the left eye after the bandage was removed.”

“It’s a good sign, let’s hope for the best,” Dr Menon said.

Lingam Gopal, a senior retina specialist, yesterday conducted the three-hour-long surgery on Siddiqur.

Dr Menon yesterday said that to assess his visual outcome, it might take four to six weeks but today’s development is a ray of hope for Siddiqur.

Read More: Operation on Siddiqur's eye conducted

On July 20, students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges, including Titumir, were demonstrating at the capital's Shahbagh to press for their seven-point demand that included announcement of their exam dates.

While dispersing the protesters, a policeman shot a teargas canister directly at some agitating students. A video footage of the incident shows Siddiqur collapsed on the street instantly.

Siddiqur, a third-year student of political science at Govt Titumir College, suffered total loss of vision in the right eye.

The government is bearing Siddiqur's medical costs. He was taken to Sankara Nethralaya on July 27.