Siddiqur's eye surgery likely on Friday

Doctors are likely to operate on Siddiqur's eyes on Friday.

To this end, a primary investigation was conducted at Sankara Nethralaya in India's Chennai yesterday. The physical fitness test of Siddiqur Rahman, whose eyes were damaged in police action in Shahbagh on July 20, is going to be held today, his family said. 

Siddiqur's eyes were damaged after a policeman, as seen in a video footage,  shot a teargas canister directly at some agitating students that day. Siddiqur collapsed on the street instantly.

Later, doctors at the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka said he could not see with his right eye. The left eye responded to light once or twice when the physicians removed the bandage on July 23.

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

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said Siddiqur would get a job in his ministry on his return to the country.

"The government will help Siddiqur for his rehabilitation. Whether he gets back his eyesight or not, I will give him a job in my ministry on his return home from India."

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled, "Chikungunya: Dhaka Experience-2017", at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University seminar hall in the capital, reports BSS.

"We will try our level best so that he can get back his vision," he added.

Siddiqur, a third-year student of Titumir college's political science department, was injured during a student demonstration.

Students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges -- Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College -- were demonstrating to press for their seven-point demand that included announcement of their exam dates.