Former minister Tofail Ahmed hospitalised in ‘deteriorating condition’ at Square Hospital

Rumours about his death are inaccurate, a hospital official says

Tofail Ahmed, an Awami League heavyweight and a close associate of independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been put under coronary care of Square Hospital.

The hospital's Chief Operating Officer Yousuf Siddique confirmed the 81-year old former commerce minister has been suffering from “multiple” age-related complications.

He told bdnews24.com, “He has been in our hospital for four days. He is suffering from age-related reasons," before adding: "His condition is not good."

Yousuf dismissed swirling social media rumours that the Awami League Advisory Council member has died.

Tofail’s personal assistant Abul Khayer also confirmed his hospitalisation, saying that his health is in a fragile state.

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.

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.

A legend in student politics, Tofail rose in ranks during the 1969 Mass Upsurge and the 1971 Liberation War. He served as the political secretary to Bangabandhu Sheikh 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.