Pushed off moving bus: School teacher fated for a life he does not deserve

A critically injured primary school teacher, pushed off a moving bus by its conductor over a fare dispute in Chattogram, risks being crippled for life. 

The injured teacher, Rahmat Ullah, is now undergoing treatment at National Hospital in the port city.

Citing doctors, Rahmat's colleagues said his injured leg is in critical condition and may have to be amputated.

No case has yet been filed for the incident that took place near Bottoli Puraton Railway Station under Kotwali police station Saturday afternoon.

Police did not take any action even as late as 36 hours after the incident. Not only that, the police are reluctant to disclose the name of the perpetrator.

Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nezam Uddin said, "I hear the owner of the bus is taking care of everything. The decision was taken after a meeting with PTI officials."

He said, "We are taking action. The bus has been seized but I am not disclosing the names of the accused now."

Rahmat Ullah, from Hoanak union in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar, is an assistant teacher at Habibullah Government Primary School in Panchlaish of ​​the city, and a trainee at PTI (Primary Training Institute). 

He told The Business Standard, "We three colleagues commute from the Oxygen intersection to Puraton Railway Station. According to the new rules, the fare is supposed to be Tk45 (Tk15 per person). But the bus helper/conductor was demanding Tk50 from us. At one point in the altercation, the helper pushed me off the bus."

"I have been in the teaching profession since 2013 and live in the city with my wife and children. I do not have money to pay for the treatment. My colleagues have been assisting in various ways and have been bearing my medical expenses for the last two two days. I have not filed any case yet since the bus owner said he would pay for my treatment," he added.

PTI Chattogram Superintendent Raushan Akhter Jahan said, "We contacted the bus owner after the accident and he has agreed to pay for the treatment."

However, Sheikh Iftekhar Saimul Chowdhury, former president of Chattogram District Bar Association, said, "The school teacher was seriously injured due to the inhuman behaviour of the helper and was at risk of losing his life in this incident. So even if the victim does not file a case, the police can take action according to Criminal Procedure Code 326."

Mohammad Mamun, resident doctor of National Hospital, said, "The left leg of the injured teacher has been critically injured. I have bandaged the leg for the time being and later we will have to do plastic surgery on the wound."

"He has also been seriously injured in the waist. For this he has to take rest for a long time," the doctor added.

Sharmin Akhter, wife of the injured teacher, said, "Our financial condition is not very good. The whole family is dependent on his earnings and we are now helpless with two small children."