Airlifted from Cox’s Bazar, Farooki undergoes 'appendix surgery’ in Dhaka

The advisor has been airlifted from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka after sudden illness

Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has undergone 'appendix surgery' at Square Hospital in Dhaka after being brought back from Cox’s Bazar following sudden illness.

The hospital’s Chief Operating Officer Yousuf Siddique said the surgery began shortly after 7pm on Sunday.

Speaking to bdnews24.com at 9:30pm, he said: “He came to us with abdominal pain. Later, tests confirmed appendicitis. The surgery began in the evening.

“The operation was carried out by our consultant from the surgery department.”

Farooki fell ill during a four-day visit to Cox’s Bazar and was airlifted to Dhaka on Saturday night.

At the time, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin said the advisor had been suffering from abdominal pain since the evening.

Civil Surgeon Mohammadul Haque said at the time that doctors initially suspected “food poisoning”.

Later that night, in a Facebook post, the advisor’s wife actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha wrote that doctors informed her that Farooki had fallen ill due to “excessive work pressure” and he was now out of danger.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, however, said in a media statement on Sunday morning that a medical board had been formed for Farooki’s treatment.

The next decision would be taken following a meeting of the board in the afternoon, the statement said.

Tisha later posted again on Facebook, writing: “Please do not be misled by any information unless it comes from a reliable source.”