Injured victims of the July Movement on Thursday called off their protests after 13.5-hour as four Advisers of the interim government assured them of better treatment.
The protesters, who had been demanding better medical care and compensation for their injuries, returned to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) after the Advisers admitted shortcomings in their treatment and promised to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the injured by December.
The protest by over 50 injured victims began on Wednesday afternoon blocking the streets outside NITOR.
Some of the protesters were on wheelchairs or on crutches, while others stood in solidarity, voicing their frustration over delays in providing financial assistance.
The protest was triggered by perceived lack of support from the government and delays in providing funds from the July Smriti Foundation, on which many of the injured relied for medical treatment.
Tension escalated when protesters blocked the vehicles of Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum and British High Commissioner Sarah Cook, both of whom were visiting the injured at NITOR.
The protesters at that time demanded resignation of Health Adviser, accusing her of negligence in providing funds in due time.
The Health Adviser and the British High Commissioner were briefly trapped, they could eventually leave with the help from hospital staff and law enforcing men.
The incident highlighted a growing dissatisfaction among the injured, who felt that they were being ignored.
In response to the growing unrest, four advisers-Asif Nazrul, Mahfuj Alam, Farida Akhter and Asif Mahmud-arrived at NITOR in the early hours on Thursday.
They held a meeting with the protesters and acknowledged the errors in government's handling of the situation and expressed regrets.
"It is our failure, our mistake. But we did not lack in efforts. Trust us, we will give a concrete outline, in writing," Asif Nazrul told the protesters.
Admitting their shortcomings, Adviser Asif Mahmud said, "We have taken charge in a fragile situation. Many problems have arisen. Let us make an outline based on discussions. You will form a team to see whether it is being implemented properly."
The Advisers offered to meet with the protesters' representatives at the Secretariat to finalise a rehabilitation plan.
They assured the injured that they would receive proper care and compensation and promised to release the funds without further delay.
On receiving assurances the protesters called off the demonstraton.
On Thursday afternoon a delegation of injured victims met with the Advisers at the Secretariat to present their seven-point demand.
The key demands included medical treatment for the injured as would be provided to ministers or advisers.
They also demanded reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by them.
They demanded that the injured be issued special cards and provided with a monthly allowance to support their rehabilitation.
The injured also called for the formation of an independent committee to investigate any medical negligence and take legal action against those responsible for poor treatment.
Another demand was swift prosecution of the political elements responsible for the violence during the uprising, as well as banning Awami League and its allies.
The delegation also called for the inclusion of the voices of the wounded and their families in future state reform initiatives to ensure that their contributions to the uprising are recognized in future political framework.
The protesters' demands underscored their desire for not just immediate medical and financial relief but also justice and recognition of their sacrifices.
In response, the Advisers reiterated their commitment to address these demands and pledged to work towards a fair and just solution.
