Staff Correspondent, RajshahiDetained Minu in ICU with 'chest pain'

Detained BNP leader Mizanur Rahman Minu was admitted to the intensive care unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with "serious chest pain" yesterday, soon after he was administered "local anesthesia" for his root canal treatment.

Upon physician's advice, Minu, former mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and city unit president of the party, was admitted to RMCH dental unit from Rajshai jail around 10:00am and was shifted to the ICU one hour later, said Senior Jail Super Shafiqul Islam Khan.

Minu was shifted to the ICU with "unstable angina," which is a condition in which the heart doesn't get enough blood flow and oxygen, said Associate Professor Roisuddin of RMCH cardiology department. He is still under physicians' observation, said the physician.

RMCH Director Brig Gen Rafikul Islam said the chest pain was "a reaction to the drug."

Minu developed the chest pain soon after he was administered local anesthesia for the root canal, said Assistant Professor Abdul Awal of the dental unit.

His wife Salma Shahadat told The Daily Star that physicians told her that his condition was stable.

On July 13, the BNP leader was sent to jail after he surrendered before a Rajshahi court in seven violence cases filed during the BNP-led 20-party's anti-government agitation this year.

Rajshahi city unit BNP General Secretary Shafiqul Haque Milon alleged that the jail authorities earlier delayed Minu's proper treatment on a plea of taking permission from the higher authorities.