The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The health condition of detained Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil deteriorated further yesterday, when his kidney became affected seriously coupled with reduced red-blood cell (RBC) counts.

His physician Prof Dr Matiur Rahman and Inspector General (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain told journalists at LabAid Hospital, where Jalil is undergoing treatment, after visiting the ailing leader last afternoon.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali, the chief physician of detained Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, yesterday said, "She has developed allergy afresh today along with high blood pressure and other complications, including ear problem."

Sheikh Hasina needed to be treated in the USA immediately. Otherwise, her entire body would be collapsed at one stage due hearing impairment, he warned.

"Abdul Jailil's condition is critical, as kidney is not functioning properly," IG (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain said, adding that a six-member medical board was formed with Prof Dr Matiur Rahman as its Chief to examine the Awami League (AL) General Secretary.

"We will make arrangement for his (Jalil's) treatment as per the advice of the medical board," he said.

The medical board examined Abdul Jalil at LabAid Hospital last evening sources close to the board said.

After examining the AL leader, Prof Matiur Rahman said, "His both kidney may fail any moment if dialysis or renal transplant is not done immediately."

He said, "There is no dialysis facility at LabAid. It could be done only at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka city. But Jalil is not interested to take medical treatment in Bangladesh."

The top medicine expert said it is better to send the AL General Secretary to the Singapore hospital, where he was taking medical treatment earlier.

IG (Prisons) Brig General Zakir Hossain, however, would not say whether the jail authorities would send him abroad for treatment.

Sheikh Hasina's counsel Advocate Quamrul Islam said both the former Prime Minister and Abdul Jalil could be sent abroad for medical treatment on bail if the prosecution lawyers refrain from opposing the bail petition in the Court of Law even under the emergency power rules.

On the critical condition of AL general secretary Abdul Jalil's health, Zillur said: "We needed his advice most now that the top leadership are detained."

"Our general secretary has been arrested without any cause," the party acting president said, adding that Jalil was now in a life and death situation.

Zillur demanded immediate release and proper treatment of party president Sheikh Hasina and Jalil, saying: "If anything happens to them the government will have to bear the responsibility."

Asked whether he had had any talks with anybody in the government about sending Jalil abroad for medical treatment, Zillur said he had not spoken to anyone in the government on the matter. He added: "Doing politics is not a crime. There is no case against Abdul Jalil."