Grandson of Kazi Nazrul Islam on life support in ‘critical condition’

A 19-member board is carrying out his treatment but doctors say the odds of his survival are ‘very low’

Babul Kazi, the youngest grandson of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s national poet, has been put on life support in critical condition, doctors said.

Md Maruful Islam, the joint director at the National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery, said Babul was put on life support on Saturday night after his condition deteriorated.

“His condition is extremely critical. His condition has been severe since he was admitted [on Saturday]. The odds of such patients surviving are very low. I’ve briefed his family about this.”

A 19-member medical board, led by joint director Maruful, was formed for the treatment of Babul.

According to Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the institute, 59-year-old Babul was brought to the facility in critical condition after being injured in a gas lighter explosion in the bathroom of his Banani residence around 5am on Saturday.

Doctors said 74 percent of his body, including his airway, had been severely burnt.

Babul’s sister Khilkhil Kazi said: “He lit up the gas lighter in the bathroom for a smoke at dawn. We keep the windows and doors shut due to the cold now.”

“The closed up space in the bathroom caused the gas lighter to explode. It was probably due to methane gas or something like that. Later we brought him to the hospital. He is under treatment.

“He is now in the ICU. We ask everyone to pray for him. The doctors are trying very hard and a medical board has been formed. Please pray that my brother survives this.”

Born in 1899 in Bardhaman’s Churulia village in West Bengal, Nazrul married Pramila Devi in Kolkata at the age of 25.

The couple had four sons, but tragedy followed as their first child, Krishna Mohammad, died at a very young age, while their second son, Arindam Khaled Bulbul, succumbed to illness at the age of four.

Their remaining sons, Kazi Sabyasachi and Kazi Aniruddha, also passed away prematurely.

Babul, the son of Sabyasachi and Uma Kazi, is the youngest of the three siblings. His sisters, Khilkhil, and Mishti Kazi are Bangladeshi citizens.

Meanwhile, Aniruddha’s family, including his wife, live in Kolkata. His wife, Kalyani Kazi, is a writer and musician.

Of their three children, Kazi Anirban passed away on Oct 2, 2024, while visiting Switzerland. Anirban’s brother Kazi Arindam lives in Kolkata, and their sister Anindita Kazi is an expatriate living in New Jersey.

Their father Aniruddha died on Feb 22, 1974, while Nazrul was still alive.