DHAKA, 3 March 2004 — The condition of noted writer Prof. Humayun Azad, who was grievously hurt by unknown assailants in Dhaka Friday night, has improved further at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where he is receiving treatment at the directive of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Azad has regained consciousness and talked to his wife and the attending physicians, according to an official announcement on his health condition released yesterday morning. The ventilation machine providing life support to Prof. Azad was removed as his condition slightly improved. But he was given oxygen sometimes.
“But he is yet to be out of danger,” said a source close to the medical team of the Combined Military Hospital taking intensive care of the Dhaka University teacher.
“Now he can respond to verbal command,” he told newsmen, adding that Prof. Azad had a slight fever yesterday. “His blood pressure, pulse, urine output, hemoglobin level looked almost normal,” said the source.
The police, meanwhile, could neither arrest anyone for the attack nor unearth the motive behind the attack. The attempt-to-murder case, filed with the Ramna Police Station, was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department Monday to expedite investigation.
Five Arrested for Grenade Attack on Khulna City Mayor
Police have arrested five people, including a bombmaker, in southwestern Khulna city with suspected links to the abortive hand-grenade attack on Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman that rekindled horror in the violence-scarred city.
Army experts defused the grenade and the mayor blamed the attack on “a vested interest group” deeply involved in a scheme to turn Khulna into a valley of death.
Police picked up Salek, Mashiur Rahman, Salahuddin, Sajol Howlader and Zahidur Rahman, aged between 28 and 34.
