One careless moment shatters all hope for a worker’s family

All hope for a worker’s family are shattered as he lost both of his hands in an accident caused due to one moment of his carelessness while on duty.

Masud Khan, 29, a former lineman of an internet service provider company and the only earning member of his family, lost his both hands and also fractured his right leg in an accident two months back.

Masud went to fix a bad internet connection in Paikpara area of Mirpur one day in May after receiving complaint.

“After receiving the complaint, I immediately went there and began working,” Masud told our staff correspondent.

“While fixing the wires on a pole, I mistakenly placed one of my hands on a transformer (11,000 volt) which was placed next to the internet line,” he added.

The 11,000-volt shock from the transformer left severe burn injuries on both of his hands.

Locals who were present at the spot took Masud to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the doctors had no other option but to amputate both of his hands.

“When he was brought here, both of his hands were badly burnt due to which we had no other option but to amputate them,” said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

The accident also left his right leg fractured as he collapsed to the ground after the electric shock, the doctor added.

“This is a common picture in Bangladesh. People get electrocuted easily because they are not careful enough. To prevent this, we have to raise more awareness among people,” the doctor lamented.

Masud is currently receiving treatment at the orange unit of the hospital. His mother Nurjahan Begum stays by his side while crying and worrying over how things would work out for the family in this situation.

“I worked for the internet service provider company for four years, and during this time I never encountered an accident before,” Masud said.

Masud was compelled to come to Dhaka to look for work in 2012 after the death of his father. He has a brother, a sister and his mother in the family.