Anu Muhammad’s toes crushed under wheels of train

Former Jahangirnagar University Professor Anu Muhammad lost the toes of his left foot after falling on a rail line while disembarking from a train in the capital's Khilgaon yesterday morning.

It happened as the noted economist along with several others had just travelled to Dhaka by Ekota Express from Dinajpur.

"When the train stopped at Malibagh around 11:00am, we along with some other passengers got off the train. Anu Sir, who was the last one to get down, tripped and fell. I tried to pull him out, but the train started moving again," Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, a researcher and former student of the professor, told The Daily Star.

The 67-year-old, also known as an activist, has been admitted to the Casualty and Orthopaedic Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital with injuries to both his feet.

Prof Bidhan Sarker, head of DMCH's Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit, said all the five toes of his left leg were crushed beyond repair. He also suffered damage to a toe of his right foot.

"Apart from these, his physical condition is stable."

Anu Muhammad will be shifted to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the morning today as per the directive of Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen, according to DMCH Director Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman.

Prof Tanzimuddin Khan of Dhaka University, who was accompanying the economist, said doctors operated on Anu Muhammad's leg at the emergency department of DMCH yesterday afternoon.

"After the toes were amputated, doctors took him to the post-operative ward and later to a cabin," he said.

Contacted, Ferdous Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said the railway authorities claimed that the train was moving slowly when Anu Muhammad attempted to get down.

An official of Bangladesh Railway said trains often slow down at the spot due to signalling and other issues.

Many of Anu Muhammad's colleagues, friends, relatives, students and well-wishers visited him at the hospital.