A medical board was formed on Wednesday afternoon to oversee the treatment of Imtiaz Ahmed Sayem, a student of Chittagong University, who has been on life support for four days following a violent clash with unidentified attackers on 31 August.
Imtiaz, a student of International Relations of the 2020-21 session, was brutally hacked during clashes that raged from late Saturday night until Sunday afternoon around some areas of the port city.
He was rushed to the city's Parkview Hospital after the incident on Sunday and underwent surgery that same night before being placed on life support.
He still suffers from occasional seizures, the medical team said in a press briefing, with CT scans revealing a brain haemorrhage.
Doctors report that Imtiaz's level of consciousness is critically low, hovering around 8 to 9 on a scale where 15 is normal. He cannot be considered out of danger until this level rises above 10.
When this report was filed, the doctors were awaiting Imtiaz's parents' consent to perform surgery on his brain.
After being injured in the clash, Imtiaz was first taken to the CU Medical Center. From there, he was transferred to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), and later to the ICU at Parkview Hospital.
His cousin, Farhana Rumjhum Bhuiya, an assistant professor in the Botany Department of CU, said, "As a volunteer, he initially stood by his classmates. No sooner had he heard that more students were lying injured on the road, he went there to rescue them. That's when he was injured by the attackers. I cannot even begin to imagine such cruelty."
Imtiaz's home is in Cumilla, but his family lives in Bogura.
His father Amir Hossain and mother Shahnaz Amin rushed to Chittagong from Bogura on Monday morning after receiving news that their son was seriously injured. They are usually stationed outside the hospital's intensive care unit now.
Before that, his classmates took turns to stand vigil since he was admitted to the hospital.
His mother's voice trembled as she spoke about her fatally injured son.
"I haven't been able to look at my son once. Inside the ICU, I only hear the machine buzz. Outside the ICU, I cannot bear to do anything but cry. The doctors say his level of consciousness needs to rise. I just pray that I can see my son with my eyes again."
Imtiaz's brother, Asaduzzaman Sajeeb, said, "We are not going inside considering the risk to his health. We are getting information from outside. The hospital has said that the medical board will meet at noon. There is nothing left to do but pray."
Photo: Collected
Another student, Mohammad Mamun from the sociology department, was put on life support at the same time as Imtiaz at Parkview Hospital with deep injuries to his skull.
However, he was taken off life support on Monday afternoon as his condition improved, doctors said.
He remains under observation in the ICU and may be moved to a cabin soon, according to Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Deputy General Manager of Parkview Hospital.
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