Bangladesh News

Detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina was admitted to city’s Square Hospital yesterday, and a seven-member medical board there unanimously recommended that she should be sent to the US for treatment of hearing loss.

Comprising Prof Mohammad Abu Tahir, Prof Tofail Ahmed, Prof Pran Gopal Dutta, Prof Modasser Ali, Prof MU Kabir Chowdhury, Dr ABM Abdullah and Dr MH Millat, the board examined the former prime minister for over an hour.

They concluded there is no alternative to sending her abroad for treatment if she is to avoid permanently impaired hearing.

Meanwhile, the AL yesterday called on the government to release its chief immediately for treatment in the United States.

In another development, the US doctors, who had earlier treated the AL chief for the ear injuries she sustained in the August 21 grenade blasts, have asked the jail authorities to send her to their hospital in Florida without delay. In a letter, they said software of the devices installed in her ears should have immediate adjustments.

Talking to The Daily Star in the afternoon, Dr Abdullah said, “We are unanimous in our opinion that she must be sent to the US hospital where she had the hearing aids installed and updated from time to time. Otherwise, we are afraid she will go permanently deaf.”

However, treatment of the other medical conditions she has is possible here, he added.

The medical board sent their formal recommendations to the jail authorities late in the evening. “We have sent our recommendations in writing,” said Dr Abdullah.

Prof Tahir, Vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), told reporters that the ENT specialists who have examined her think it would not be wise even to touch her damaged ears. “She should be treated at the medical centre where she got treatment earlier.”

Deputy Inspector General (prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told The Daily Star at 8:00pm that the recommendations did not yet reach them. “First, let us receive the recommendations and only then we will decide on the matter.”

He said Suraiya Bulbul, the doctor assigned to monitor the health condition of Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the subjail, has received a letter from one of the AL chief’s personal physicians.

Under supervision of Dr Millat, Hasina was taken to the hospital at 8:46am. She has been kept in a cabin on the 14th floor. Tight security measures were in place in and around the private medical facility on Panthapath.

Earlier on Monday, she agreed to be hospitalised as proposed by the caretaker government.

Meanwhile, some highly placed sources told The Daily Star that the AL chief’s hospitalisation is part of the government plan to send her abroad within a few days.

Besides problems in the ears, she has allergy and high blood pressure.

Sources said four other doctors–Dr Shaila Khatun and Dr Baren Chakrabarty and two others nominated by the government–could join the medical board to examine her thoroughly.

The board also advised her to have some routine medical tests that will begin today, said Dr Abdullah.

In three weeks, this is the second time she is at the Square Hospital. On February 21, she was brought here and taken back to the subjail after a couple of hours’ stay for check-ups.

Briefing the newsmen in front of the hospital, DIG Prisons said they learnt on Monday night that the AL chief would be admitted to hospital. “We preferred Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital or Apollo. But she preferred Square,” he said.

They would take further steps after all necessary tests and on the doctors’ recommendations.

AL PRESIDIUM

The Presidium has decided to send a letter to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in a day or two, urging him to allow Hasina treatment in the US.

The decision came at a meeting chaired by acting president Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan residence. Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafrullah and Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser were present at the meeting.

Briefing the journalists, AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said they hope their leader would be sent to US soon as per her the physicians’ advice.