Khandker Mosharraf, Kamal Lohani test Covid-19 positive
Former minister and incumbent lawmaker Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and eminent cultural personality Kamal Lohani are the latest high-profile individuals to test Covid-19 positive.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Rana Dasgupta and his wife, both of whom were found Covid-19 positive on Wednesday, were shifted to Dhaka from Chattogram yesterday for better treatment.
Also, former home minister Sahara Khatun, who has been undergoing treatment with fever, allergies and old-age complications, was shifted to ICU after her condition deteriorated.
Talking to this newspaper, Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, former Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives minister, said he was doing fine and sought blessings from countrymen.
"I got my test result yesterday [Thursday] and it was positive. I am staying at my residence in Dhaka and receiving treatment from home," said Mosharraf, also chief of the parliamentary standing committee on LGRD ministry.
Elected from Faridpur-3, Mosharraf is the father-in-law of Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Awami League advisory council member served as a cabinet member of Sheikh Hasina governments for last two consecutive terms since 2009.
Kamal Lohani's daughter Urmi Lohani said her father was admitted to Health and Hope Hospital on Wednesday for kidney and lungs-related complications, and was on life support at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.
"We found out in the morning that he is Covid-19 positive," Urmi said, adding they wanted to admit him at Combined Military Hospital but authorities there said no seat was is available for Covid-19 patients.
Kamal, a renowned journalist, was then shifted to Shikdar Medical College in Gulshan as his physical condition deteriorated.
In the afternoon, he was taken to Sheikh Russell Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali, Urmi said.
Faruk Ahmed, director of the hospital, said Kamal was taken to ICU.
Kamal, aged around 86, had earlier been admitted to Health and Hope hospital in mid-May with kidney and lung problems.
He was taken back home after two weeks of treatment. "But we were compelled to take him to the hospital again as his condition deteriorated drastically," said his son Sagar Lohani.
Rana Dasgupta and his wife were admitted to Shikdar Medical College Hospital in Gulshan, said Taposh Kanti Baul, Rana's colleague at the international crimes tribunal (ICT).
Referring to doctors, Taposh said the couple was undergoing treatment at a cabin as they did not develop any major complications.
Both Rana Dasgupta, a senior prosecutor of ICT, and his wife gave samples for coronavirus test three days back.
Meanwhile, former home minister Sahara Khatun was shifted to ICU at United Hospital yesterday morning as her condition deteriorated.
"She was shifted to ICU around 10am, after her blood pressure and oxygen saturation level fell suddenly. She will be under doctor's observation for 72 hours," Anisur Rahamn, nephew of Sahara, told The Daily Star.
Sahara is an incumbent lawmaker and a presidium member of ruling AL.
Doctors have done Covid-19 tests four times since she was admitted at the hospital on June 3. The results all came back negative, said Anisur, who is also the assistant personal secretary of the lawmaker.
He said the AL leader yesterday expressed her gratitude to the prime minister for ensuring the best treatment available in the country, but she desired receiving treatment abroad.
Her family urged citizens of the country to pray for her recovery.
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