The Puppet Show

Every five years, the time for general election comes Bangladesh, bringing with it a fresh season of despair and uncertainty. From October 2013 to January 2014, the nation passed passing through season of sheer horror and uncertainty due to the fierce political unrest.

Random usage of handmade bombs on streets and sidewalks resulted in many human casualities.

The death toll from the Dhaka Medical Burn Unit is 391 and the number of injured and under treatment victims were 21, 574. “Shame on our dirty politics where power is more important than the welfare of people. Here in Bangladesh, people are the puppets in the hands of our political leaders” — said one of the victims during a political demonstration.

Mohammad Ripon, a petrol bomb victim who lost his one eye almost and got burnt almost every part of his body due to opposition parties road blockade. And he is the only earning person of his family.

Sabed Ali Islam is a petrol bomb victim due to the opposition parties’ blockade and strike during driving CNG

Riad is another petrol bomb victim who is piece of diamond for his mother. After admitting Riad in DMC Burn Unit his mother didn’t take any rest for taking care his son. And suddenly in one afternoon her mom laid over his leg and slept.

Al-Amin is a minibus driver who feeds his family and for this he has to go out every morning to earn money. But during driving the minibus he was attacked by the political picketer.

Sabina came with the other member of her family to visit his dad in Dhaka Medical College Burn Unit and her dad is a petrol bomb victim.But one of his dad’s friend informed that Sabina’s dads face got burnt badly and she might get scared.And for this she was at the other part of the hospital with one of her uncle

Sabina’s father in DMC burn unit.

A petrol bomb victim’s dead body was taken to Dhaka Medical Morgue.

And finally Hasan left this world at the age of 15 and his body was ready to reach his home for the funeral.

Words & Images by Anik Rahman