Rafida Ahmed Bonya has left for the United States for treatment after suffering a terror attack in Dhaka that claimed the life of her husband Avijit Roy.
Published : 03 Mar 2015, 05:29 PM
Bonya’s father-in-law Professor Ajay Roy has confirmed her departure.
However, he could not specify the details of her departure.
The US Embassy in Dhaka had been taking care of all treatment facilities, said Roy.
Bonya was released from the Square Hospital on Monday night, he added.
According to Ajay Roy, the hospital authorities had brought physicians from Bangkok. He had been there when Bonya was released from the hospital. From there she was taken to one of her relative’s place.
“She has been sent to the US on that (Monday) night or probably the next morning,” he added.
Square Hospital's information desk revealed that she was released around 9pm on Monday.
Earlier, the couple’s close friend Publisher Ahmedur Rashid Tutul told the reporters, “The US government has arranged her return because she is a citizen of that country. The US State Department contacted Bonya after the attack.”
Avijit Roy, a writer-blogger, died on Feb 26, after he and Bonya were attacked with sharp weapons at Dhaka University’s TSC area, while they were returning from the book fair.
Bonya suffered head injuries and one of her fingers was chopped off while she tried to save her husband. She was taken to the Square Hospital the next day.
Roy, who founded the blog Mukto-mona, had received numerous death threats for his views against religious extremism. He was also a regular bdnews24.com columnist.
A bio-engineer and a naturalised US citizen, he came to Dhaka along with his wife on Feb 16. Two of Avijit’s books were published in the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki had condemned the attack as ‘horrific in its brutality and cowardice’ during a briefing on Friday.
The US has offered to help in the investigation, besides providing consular assistance.
Roy’s father, professor Ajay Roy, has filed a murder case with the Shahbagh police without naming suspects over the incident.