The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The detained ailing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now under observation at the Square Hospital in the city, is doing well and her condition has improved, said IG Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hossain, who talked to the doctors after visiting her yesterday.

Prof Sanwar Hossain of Square Hospital, heading a medical team formed to treat Sheikh Hasina, told journalists she was doing well.

"She has been kept under intensive observation and her physical condition is now stable," he said, adding," A number of new doctors were inducted in the medical board yesterday.

He said Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League President, was receiving medical treatment in phases and she might have to stay at the Hospital for another week.

"We have not yet arrived at any decision on her ear complications but hope to come to a decision soon as the new members of the medical board are senior ear experts," he said.

Regarding her personal physicians being denied access to her, Prof Sanwar said, "We did not invite them, neither did we prevent them. In any case Sheikh Hasina is a detainee and the matter is for the jail authorities to settle."

IG Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hassan and DIG Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, who visited her at the hospital at around 10:30am and stayed there for half an hour, said Sheikh Hasina's health has improved a lot.

The IG Prisons said her personal physicians had previously examined and attended to their patient-Sheikh Hasina-and would have access to her in the future if necessary.

"Doctors at Square Hospital are currently looking after her, as she is admitted there," Brig Gen Zakir said and added that a number of physicians were included in the medical board for examining the former Prime Minister, but he was not aware if any doctor had been excluded.

He said he had no information on the matter of sending her abroad for medical treatment.

"The medical authorities did not say that they would not be able to provide necessary treatment for her ear complaints," he said, adding the jail authorities would take the appropriate decision if they advice to send her abroad.

"It was one doctor's personal opinion that Sheikh Hasina could not receive the treatment here in Bangladesh," said the IG Prisons, who did not find an authoritative document to support her personal physician's claim.

It may be pointed out that eight of Sheikh Hasina's personal physicians, who did not examine her together, gave split advice about sending her abroad for medical treatment, specially to the US for ear complications.

Dr MH Millat, one of the seven doctors of the medical board formed by the Square Hospital authorities told earlier that Sheikh Hasina's health condition was better except for her ear and eye complaints.

She has been suffering from multiple health problems, including vision, as she is suffering from glaucoma or pressure behind the eye, her personal physicians say, adding that she would lose her hearing ability and become totally deaf, if not sent to the US immediately.