Bangladesh News

Three specialist doctors yesterday said detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina should be sent abroad immediately for treatment of her ears as she runs the risk of going completely deaf.

ENT specialist Prof Pran Gopal Dutta, ophthalmologist Prof Modasser Ali, and heart surgeon Dr MH Millat–all her personal physicians–examined the former prime minister for about two hours at the sub-jail and later placed the recommendations to the jail authorities.

“If she is not sent abroad for treatment she could become permanently deaf,” said Prof Pran Gopal, adding that proper treatment of her ears is not possible here.

Talking to reporters after seeing Hasina, he said the AL chief cannot hear well with her left ear while she suffers a continuous noise in the right ear.

The doctors who met her yesterday recommended forming a medical board with all seven personal physicians who have examined her in the last few days.

“We who have been seeing her lately want to sit together to make some comprehensive recommendations for the jail authorities,” Dr Millat told The Daily Star.

The prisons authorities however do not seem much interested in forming a board, said sources.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG-prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told The Daily Star last night, “We are considering getting her admitted to a hospital as recommended earlier by four doctors.”

Queried if they would set up a medical board, he said, “The doctors have told me they want to sit together, but we have yet to decide on that.”

About the possibility of sending Hasina abroad, the DIG prisons said they have nothing to do in this regard.

“At first, she would have to be admitted to a hospital and only then things will come out through examinations,” he observed.

Prof Modasser Ali said Hasina’s overall physical condition at this moment does not require her to be hospitalised. Dr Millat suggests that she should be sent to the US within a couple of days.

Earlier, four of the AL chief’s personal physicians–Prof MU Kabir Chowdhury, Dr ABM Abdullah, Dr Shaila Khatun and Dr Baren Chakravarty–examined her condition and recommended that she should be hospitalised.

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin on March 4 told reporters, “If necessary, we will form a high-powered medical board and take measures in line with its recommendations.”

He added, “Even we will send her abroad if the board recommends so.”