Md. Bappi Hossain, a 19-year-old protester, was shot by police on July 19 during the Anti-Discrimination Students movement in Rayerbazar, Dhaka. The shotgun pellets struck both his eyes, with three lodged in his left and two in his right. Despite undergoing three surgeries at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, known as the Eye Hospital, Bappi remains blind. His mother, Maryam Begum, revealed that 19 shotgun pellets are still embedded in his body. Doctors have informed her that Bappi will never regain his sight, though he continues to hold on to a slim hope of recovery.
Rahmatullah Sarkar Sabir, 26, a movement coordinator from Barishal BM College, was similarly injured during a clash with police on August 4. Four pellets hit his eyes—three in the left and one in the right. Despite surgery, his left eye has sustained severe damage, with doctors cautioning that removing the remaining pellet would mean sacrificing the eye itself. While his right eye has partially recovered, Rahmatullah has lost vision in his left eye.
According to the National Institute of Ophthalmology, between July 17 and August 31, 611 people were admitted with eye injuries, the majority caused by metal pellets. Of these, 28 have permanently lost sight in both eyes, while 510 have lost vision in one eye. As of September 12, 46 patients remain in the hospital’s specialised care unit, all of whom were injured by pellet guns.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, a resident surgeon at the institute, described the devastating impact of the pellets. “The eye is extremely delicate. When a pellet penetrates the retina and reaches the jelly-like substance inside, it tears the retina and compromises the structure of the eye. In many cases, the damage is beyond repair, leaving little chance of recovery.”
Pellet guns, often referred to as “birdshot” due to their original use in hunting, fire a wide spread of small metal pellets. Each round can contain 300-600 pellets, making the impact unpredictable and indiscriminate. Although authorities claim the guns are a non-lethal alternative to live bullets, the overwhelming result is severe injury, particularly blindness. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the use of such weapons, calling them inhumane and inappropriate for law enforcement.
Both organizations have previously demanded a ban on pellet guns in Indian-administered Kashmir, where in 2016 over 1,100 individuals were partially or fully blinded during protests. Amnesty International highlighted the lasting trauma inflicted by the weapons, with victims suffering not only physical impairment but also psychological distress and social consequences. Many injured protesters were left unable to work or continue their studies due to vision loss.
As Bangladesh’s interim government explores reforms in policing, the use of pellet guns for crowd control warrants serious attention. Banning such harmful ammunition could prevent further tragedies like those seen in recent months.
