The protesters who lost their limbs during the revolution are now being fitted with robotic prosthetic hands in a poignant turn of events following the deadly uprising that ousted former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Among them is 19-year-old Hafeez Mohammad Hossain, a student whose right hand was blown off during police gunfire on August 5, the day demonstrators stormed Hasina's palace.
“I’ll be able to do some everyday tasks with this artificial hand,” Hossain said on Thursday as he tested the rubber-covered prosthetic limb, developed by Robolife Technologies, a Bangladeshi organization specializing in advanced artificial hands.
The prosthetic hands use nerve-connected sensors, enabling users to perform basic functions such as holding a glass, typing, or using a phone. While far from mimicking organic hands, these limbs bring a sense of normalcy back to the lives of the injured.
– A Tragic Backdrop –
Hossain recounted the harrowing day when gun pellets tore through his body. "A police officer pointed a shotgun at me and fired," he said. While surgeons managed to remove the gunshot fragments, they could not save his hand.
The months-long protests against Hasina's autocratic regime claimed at least 700 lives in police crackdowns, leaving countless others wounded.
– New Lives, New Challenges –
Robolife Technologies, supported by the interim government, fitted prosthetics for five protesters on Thursday, including Hossain. “If you ask me whether they work like organic hands, I’d say no,” said Antu Karim, an engineer with the project. “But these hands can help the boys eat, drink, or perform simple tasks, restoring dignity.”
Among the other recipients is 32-year-old Mohammad Mamun Mia, a father of two whose hand was severed by a gang allegedly linked to Hasina's Awami League party. While Mia can no longer work as a tractor driver, he now hopes to open a small business.
Nineteen-year-old Arif Hossain Sagar, who lost his hand to amputation after a protest injury, and Nayeem Hasan, wounded while helping injured demonstrators, also received prosthetics. Hasan, who broke into tears, expressed hope the arm would help him hold his one-year-old daughter for the first time in months.
– Calls for Support –
Despite the hope these advancements bring, many injured protesters claim they lack sufficient aid. Earlier this month, limbless protesters rallied, urging the interim government to prioritize their needs.
Hasina's 15-year tenure was marked by allegations of human rights abuses, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings. For survivors like Hossain and Mia, the prosthetics signify a chance to rebuild, though scars of the past remain deeply etched.
