Ershads condition deteriorates
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Dhaka
The health condition of Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad, who has been suffering from low haemoglobin and liver complications, deteriorated seriously yesterday. He is having breathing problems and now kept on oxygen support. Ershad was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka after his condition deteriorated on June 27 due to age-related complications. The 89-year-old politician had stayed away from active politics and was hardly seen at any programme since November last. The former military ruler has been suffering from various old-age complications, including low haemoglobin and liver problem, high bilirubin and serious knee pain.
The condition of Ershad has deteriorated. He is kept on oxygen support at the CMH, JP acting chairman GM Quader said while talking to reporters at Ershads Banani political office yesterday.
Ershads condition improved at least 50 per cent till Saturday, said Quader, who is also the younger brother of Ershad. But his condition deteriorated suddenly since Sunday morning, he added.
Doctors are giving medicines to stop his lung infection. Weve decided to take my brother abroad for treatment. But everything depends on the advice of doctors treating him, he said.
Quader said they have full confidence on the doctors at CMH.
When asked if Ershads treatment was hindered due to funds crisis, Quader said: That is absoluely wrong information. Im ready to spend all my assets for my brothers treatment. Besides, he is still the leader of opposition in Parliament.
Ershad is a former president and also ex-army chief. The state will bear his medical expenses, the acting JP chairman added.
JP secretary general Mashiur Rahman Ranga, on Thursday, told Parliament that it was not possible to treat their party chairman Ershad due to funds crunch. Ranga, who was also present at the press briefing, said: The media has misrepresented my statement. I only replied to BNP lawmaker Haroons statement in Parliament. The BNP-led government had tried to prove Ershad a corrupt person. But they failed to prove it and now BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia herself is in jail for corruption charges.
Among others, party presidium members Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abu Hossain Babla and Sunil Shuvo Roy were present during the press briefing. Ershads declining health came to light after he was admitted to the CMH on November 27 last before the national election. Ershad returned to Bangladesh on December 26, just ahead of the general election, after receiving treatment from a hospital in Singapore.
He again went to Singapore on January 20 for treatment and returned home on February 4.
Citing illness, Ershad withdrew his candidature from the Dhaka-17 seat, but contested the election from the Rangpur-3 constituency without campaigning. He, however, won from that seat.
Jatiya Party, which joined the 11th parliamentary election as the key partner of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance, bagged 22 seats and Ershad was elected MP from Rangpur-3. In April, Ershad formed a trust and donated all of his assets to it.
UNB adds: Meanwhile, Ershads Deputy Press Secretary Khandaker Delowar Jalali told UNB around 11:45pm that the condition of the Jatiya Party chief remained unchanged. Wishing anonymity, another Jatiya Party leader echoed Jalali, saying, Doctors will decide on Monday morning whether our party chairman will be put on life support after reviewing his condition.
