The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A medical board yesterday advised the jail authorities for immediate hospitalisation of detained BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman.

The five-member medical board headed by Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Orthopedic department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) examined Tarique Rahman for three-hours at the hospital and advised to admit him at hospital, which is equipped with advanced orthopedic, cardio-vascular and neurological facilities.

"We have recommended for his hospitalisation immediately, as we found Tarique Rahman incapable of sitting on his bed alone.

He was lying and feeling pains," Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed told journalists after checking the BNP leader.

Earlier, authorities of the Dhaka Central Jail brought him to the BSMMU Hospital from the prison for the medical checkup, following which he was taken back to jail again.

DIG (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told journalists after the checkup that they would hospitalise Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, soon after getting the medical report.

He said they took Tarique Rahman to the BSMMU for medical checkup at about 11:00am as he was suffering from waist and neck pain. After the examination, he was sent back to the Central Jail at about 2:00pm, the DIG added.

Tarique Rahman was arrested by the Joint Forces on charge of corruption from their Cantonment residence on March 7, 2007.

Tarique Rahman recently complained to a Court that he was tortured while on police remand last month.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of the BSMMU Prof Mohammad Tahir yesterday said the doctors concerned of his hospital were ordered to checkup all the VIP prisoners, who are undergoing treatment at the BSMMU hospital immediately as per request of the jail authorities.

"The jail authorities will be advised to take decision on each of the VIP prisoners on the basis of the medical report," he said, adding, "Some of the VIP prisoners were suffering from multiple diseases."