Medical board says Ghulam Azam 'stable'

The medical board, formed to check the physical condition of arrested former Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Ghulam Azam, is of the opinion that he is stable and does not need to be in hospital.
"His physical condition is stable and well. He has been given the diet for VIP patients and he has no problems now," BSMMU Director Brig Gen Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told The Daily Star yesterday.
He said the opinion of the medical board is that he can receive the treatment he needs staying anywhere. The board thinks it is not necessary for him to stay in hospital.
International Crimes Tribunal sent Ghulam Azam to jail on Wednesday in connection with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. The jail authorities, however, sent the 89-year-old to the BSMMU prison cell later that day. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) formed the three-member medical board to check his health.
Cardiology specialist Sajal Krishna Banerjee, a member of the medical board, told The Daily Star that the board submitted its report around 1:00pm after conducting thorough checkups and tests on Ghulam Azam.
Sajal, however, said, “The board has also advised some new tests for Ghulam Azam and asked the BSMMU authorities to do those by today [Friday]. After examining the new reports, the board will give its final opinion on Saturday [today].”
He said they have brought some changes to Ghulam Azam's prescription by adding some new medicine and deducting some others.
Abdul Majid Bhuiyan said apart from necessary supplies from the hospital, his family on Thursday gave warm clothes for Ghulam Azam.
He told The Daily Star yesterday that the hospital would inform the medical board's opinion to the jail authorities today (Saturday) when the weekend is over.
Inspector General of Prisons (IG-Prisons) Brig Gen Ashraful Islam Khan said they would act according to the opinion of the medical board and also the suggestions of the BSMMU doctors as Ghulam Azam is under the care of doctors.
Ghulam Azam has been charged with 62 counts of crimes against humanity at the International Crimes Tribunal.