Convicted war criminal Ghulam Azam yesterday was shifted to CCU from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) as his health deteriorated.
For his better treatment, the authorities have formed a seven-member medical board headed by Prof Dr ABM Abdullah, dean of medicine faculty.
The kingpin of Jamaat-e-Islami has been staying at the BSMMU since January 2012.
Another convicted war criminal Abdul Alim died of cancer at the ICU of the BSMMU on August 30. The former BNP minister was sentenced to imprisonment until death on October 9 last year.
Ghulam Azam, 92, was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit following breathing problems around 10:30am. He was suffering from high blood pressure and other old-age complications.
Hospital Director Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told the Dhaka Tribune at 5:30pm that condition of the patient was stable. “He is fully conscious.”
On July 15 last year, top collaborator Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in prison for incitement, conspiracy, planning, complicity and inaction to prevent murder during the 1971 Liberation War.
The tribunal said: “His [Ghulam Azam’s] crimes are punishable by the maximum sentence, which mean the death sentence. But he is now 91 years old and under regular medical care. So taking his age and health under consideration, he is being imprisoned.”
The appeals case of Ghulam Azam is pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
Yesterday, the medical board conducted an x-ray and was assessing whether he had developed pneumonia. “More tests will be conducted to confirm his complications,” Majid said.
The other members of the committee are Prof Dr Mynuzzaman, chairman of physical medicine; Prof Dr Rafiqul Alam, head of nefrology department; Prof Dr Ashiqur Rahman of chest disease department; and Prof AKM Fazlur Rahman, Prof Dr Md Chowdhury Meshkat Ahmmed and Associate Professor Dr AKM Mustafa Zaman of cardiology department.