Attack horror haunts writer

Humayun Azad's health remained unchanged yesterday and his family said the horror of the butcher's knife attack on the prominent writer apparently haunted him in hospital bed.

"He was trying to say something, but I did not get him. He is yet to regain his speaking ability. During my 10-minute stay, it appeared that he is afraid of something," said Azad's wife Latifa Kohinoor.

"He was trembling. Perhaps, he tried to narrate his harrowing tale."

"He is still very weak and doctors said they would keep him in the intensive care unit as he needed rest to overcome the anaesthetic effects," she said after visiting the author at the Combined Military Hospital.

Azad, professor of Bangla at Dhaka University and an author of over 50 books, is being treated at the hospital for multiple life-threatening stabs in the head, jaw and shoulder he suffered in front of Bangla Academy on February 27 attack.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a bulletin at 11:00am yesterday that Azad's overall condition was improving, but he required further intensive care.

"His condition remains unchanged with normal pulse, temperature, respiration and blood pressure," the bulletin said, quoting the review of a medical board comprising senior specialists of the armed forces.

"He is conscious, oriented with time and space and can communicate verbally," the bulletin said, adding: "He can sit with assistance. He is getting liquid food through nasal tube."

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made no headway in the probe into the attack on Azad.

The CID team talked to Azad's wife and son Anonnyo at the CMH yesterday.

"They asked me when and from whom we first heard of the attack," Latifa said, adding the CID men inquired about any threats to Azad's life by anyone.

Investigation officer Kazi Abdul Malek said, "I am verifying the information gathered from two arrestees -- Abu Abbas Bhuiyan and Golam Mostafa. I don't have any information to disclose to the press now."

Police arrested Abbas, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, in Central Shaheed Minar area on Saturday and Mostafa, a Tablig activist, in Moghbazar on Tuesday. They are now in jail.