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“I know my days are numbered as doctors have told me I am unable to fight off diseases due to the hundreds of splinters still inside my body.”

The former MP still has around 1,500 splinters, including in the head and lungs, causing her unbearable pain regularly.

She said she was able to walk properly after five years of treatment.

“All we want now is to see justice and capital punishment to the attackers.”

Rashida Akhtar Ruma, assistant secretary of Dhaka City Awami Mohila League, was only 24 when the attack took place.

With over 1,000 splinters still stuck inside her body, she said, “I’m 42 now and my health complications are increasing every day.”

“All I want is the punishment to the attackers and the mastermind before I take my last breath.”

Bazlur Rahman, president of Dhaka North city AL, who is carrying 58 splinters in his body, said he has accepted the unavoidable truth – that he will die from the pain caused by the grenade attack.

“I have accepted that I will never return to a normal life … But all I want is justice. If the culprits are punished, we will get some relief.”

According to Kazi Shahanara Yeasmin, vice president of Swechchhasebok League, 17 survivors have already died without seeing justice.

With 134 splinters still in her body, she underwent 12 surgeries so far. Due to her deteriorating health, doctors have said her body cannot bear more.

“I don’t know how many days I have left. My only wish to see the execution of the verdict,” Shahanara, also a deputy attorney general, said.

According to the verdict, delivered by a special court in Dhaka on October 10, 2018, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and 18 others were sentenced to life in prison.

Meanwhile, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and 18 others were given the death penalty on charges of murder through criminal conspiracy.

All 38 accused were also sentenced to life in prison for causing grievous injuries.