Zafar Iqbal to be taken to CMH in Dhaka

Eminent writer Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal will be taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka following the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Several television channels said, preparations are going on to bring the professor to Dhaka by air ambulance of armed forces.

The teacher of Sylhet's Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) was stabbed on Saturday afternoon on the campus.

Later, he was taken to M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet. A five-member medical board was formed for his treatment.

Meanwhile, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr Ehteshamul Hoque Dulal said Zafar Iqbal is out of danger now.

A bdnews24.com report said, the health official is following his condition from Dhaka.

Witnesses said, the professor sustained injuries in his head from the knife attack. "Though he was bleeding, he was still able to speak," a witness said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the attack on the popular author.

She also directed the authorities concerned to track down the culprits involved in the attack and bring them to book.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also condemned the attack.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid went to M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital soon after getting the news.

The attack was reported during concluding session of Electrical and Electronics Engineering festival , Robo-5, at the Mukta Mancha of the university.

One person has been detained in connection with the attack, a teacher of the university said.

SUST Proctor Zahir Uddin Ahmed said a young man came from behind the stage and stabbed him in his neck, chest and mouth. He was immediately detained by police and others.

SUST students have started agitation protesting the attack.

Jalalabad Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam Swapan said police are working to bring the situation under control.

A police constable, Ibrahim, was also injured while trying to catch the attacker.

According to the news agency, the eminent author had recently criticised the practice of ragging on campus.

In his recent statement, he had said that five students, who were punished for ragging, had gotten off easy, but should have been handed over to police.

However, it was not immediately clear whether the attack was related to his criticism of ragging.

Some students believe militants may have been responsible for the attack as Iqbal has been an outspoken opponent of militancy and communalism.