Ghulam Azam on life support

War criminal Ghulam Azam is on life support at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after his health deteriorated.

BSMMU Director Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com that the Jamaat-e-Islami guru was put on life support around 9:30pm on Thursday.

Azam has been kept at the hospital's prison cell since he stood trial at the International Crimes Tribunal for his crimes against humanity during the 1971 War of Independence.

He was sentenced to 90 years in jail on July 15 last year.

The former Jamaat chief’s declining health was reported a day after the Supreme Court fixed dates for hearing appeal in his war crimes case.

Bhuiyan said Azam's blood pressure had dropped in the afternoon but they stabilised him later with medication. "He in a sense is alive because of medicines."

Azam, 92, also suffers from problems with his kidneys.

War criminal Abdul Alim, sentenced to life in prison, died while serving his sentence.

BSMMU Proctor Dr Zakaria Swapan, over phone, around 11:05pm, told private channel Ekattor TV that “Ghulam Azam is still alive. He is on life support”.