TDS Desk:

Md Mamun Mia, a Sociology student at Chittagong University (CU), is slowly recovering after suffering a critical head injury during clashes between CU students and locals on August 31.

Doctors removed a part of his skull during surgery and preserved it in a freezer.

A bandage on his head reads: “No bone, do not press.”

Mamun, who was on life support for four days, has now regained consciousness and has been moved from the ICU to a cabin on Thursday, according to Chattogram city’s Parkview Hospital Manager Zia Uddin.

“Doctors may reattach his skull bones in one to two months, depending on his progress,” he said.

His friend Niaz Morshed said, “He is now trying to communicate through gestures.”

Meanwhile, Imtiaz Mahmud Sayem, a master’s student of International Relations, remains unconscious even after four days of treatment at the same hospital.

“He might need another surgery,” said Zia Uddin.

One of Imtiaz’s classmates said, “It has been more than 72 hours and he is still on life support, though his condition is a little better than before. The CT scan shows a very concerning situation. He is such a calm and quiet person, never involved in trouble. Seeing him like this is unbearable.”

Another injured student, Naimul Islam of Islamic Studies, who suffered a ruptured artery, was first admitted to Parkview Hospital but has since been moved to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Dhaka.

Naimul’s friend said, “We were terrified when we heard about his injury. Doctors have transferred him to Dhaka for better care. We are praying he makes a full recovery soon.”

The clashes erupted on the night of August 30 in Jobra, near CU’s Gate No 2, following the alleged assault of a female student.

The violence continued the next day in several rounds, leaving at least 421 students injured, according to university authority.