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Iconic political and influential leader of the Awami League Tofail Ahmed is showing signs of “improvement”, her family has said, though doctors report that his condition remains “critical”.
His health had deteriorated due to different age-related complications, but recent reports indicate a positive shift, reports bdnews24.com.
On Monday, his niece, Shamima Akter, visited him at Dhaka’s Square Hospital and shared an update with the press.
She said Tofail had “opened his eyes” and made efforts to “converse” with those around him.
“He is doing better now; his blood pressure has risen. He opened his eyes on his own and even tried speaking,” Shamima said to the waiting journalists.
Tofail has been under treatment at Square Hospital for nearly 10 days due to complications associated with old age.
Abul Khayer, Tofail’s personal assistant, confirmed his health status, saying: “His condition is better than a few days ago. Today’s progress is relatively significant.”
A family member said the senior Awami League leader has been using a wheelchair for several years since a stroke left one side of his body “paralysed”. The numbness in his left hand and leg has left him unable to walk.
On Monday, CEO of Square Hospital Yousuf Siddique said Tofail Ahmed is still on life support, though different organs in his body are responding.
“His condition remains critical. However, his heart and lungs are functioning at around 30 percent. Other organs are also working.
“In this condition, the doctors are doing their utmost, and they continue to work tirelessly for his recovery.”
On Saturday evening, rumours of his death circulated, but the hospital quickly denied these reports.
Born on Oct 22, 1943, in the village of Kodalia in Bhola District, Tofail had a huge presence in the country’s political history over the last five and a half decades, serving as a member of parliament nine times. He was last elected as an MP from the Bhola-1 constituency.
Tofail rose to prominence as a fiery student leader in the 1960s and played a pivotal role in the country’s independence movement.
He became the vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union during the 1968-69 protests and later served as a key figure in the student leadership during the 1969 Mass Upsurge.
He stood beside Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the historic Mar 7, 1971, rally at the Racecourse Ground, where the future leader of an independent Bangladesh called for a final struggle against Pakistani rule.
Tofail was one of the four regional commanders in the 1971 Liberation War, and served as the political secretary to Mujibur Rahman in the early 1970s.
As he became a political heavyweight, Tofail served the Awami League as the organising secretary for a long time before becoming a presidium member later.
He took office as the commerce minister during the Awami League’s 1996-2001 tenure. He served in the same position again from 2011 to 2013.