The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The detained elder son of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP, Tarique Rahman yesterday received injury on head and other parts of his body as he slipped in a bathroom of the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.

Dr Kazi Mazharul Islam Dolon, an orthopaedic specialist of the BSMMU, told journalists that Tarique was taking rest after being examined and treated and he would be on observation for 48 hours.

Describing the incident he said Tarique Rahman went to the bathroom at about 12:15pm and suddenly slipped when he was about to come out from bathroom.

"Tarique tried to walk on his left leg as he could not move his right leg. He felt over the basin and received injury on the right side of his head, backside, right knee and ankle," Dr Dolon, who is also a member of the five-member medical team, formed for Trique's treatment, said.

Talking to reporters Deputy Inspector General -IGP (Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui also confirmed that Tarique Rahman fell down in the bathroom and suffered minor injuries to his back and forehead. He further said that Tarique's forehead was cut slightly.

After visiting Tarique the DIG said his condition was better than before. He has taken his meal and talked to.

Replying to a question, Siddiqui said the matter for sending Tarique abroad for medical treatment is a matter of the government's decision, not of the prisons authorities.

Tarique was transferred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University Hospital from Dhaka Central Jail, after his arrest on March 7, 2007.

Soon after the incident, Tarique's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman went to the hospital and visited her injured husband.

However, the prison authorities did not allow BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain, Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Begum Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and other BNP leaders and former lawmakers to see him.

Criticising the government for not sending Tarique Rahman abroad for treatment Khondoker Delwar Hossain alleged that Tarique Rahman is being pushed towards death.

He reiterated his demand for the release of Tarique Rahman immediately.