Dhaka, May 28 (bdnews24.com) – The condition of pop legend Azam Khan, now on life support system at city's Square Hospital, will turn from bad to worse in the coming days, a medical board fears.
A seven-member medical board that just concluded their meeting saw no improvement in his condition in the coming days.
"As we cannot treat his cancer growth in different parts of the body, his condition will deteriorate in coming days," said cancer specialist Dr Qamruzzaman Chowdhury under whose supervision the valiant freedom fighter is undergoing treatment.
Dr Chowdhury explained, "Azam Khan is on artificial oxygen supply and his blood pressure has been regulated with help of several drugs. Chemotherapy (cancer treatment) cannot be applied at this moment. This will aggravate his cancer condition."
The cancer expert said and that they had increased an ICU expert in the medical board meeting which was supposed to be held with six specialists.
Dr Chowdhury said the pop guru tried to draw his attention by waving at him in the noon to remove the musk put on his mouth for oxygen supply.
"He is strong in mind, but we cannot remove his oxygen supply."
Earlier, Azam Khan's daughter Ema Khan told bdnews24.com that her father had gained consciousness for a brief period around 10:30am.
"He muttered a few words. My younger sister was beside him, but she could not understand those words," she said and urged all to pray for the recovery of her father.
The doctor said they would take care of the pop guru in the ICU. "We will assess his condition every day," Dr Chowdhury said.
Cancer specialist Dr Selim Reza, intensivists Dr Nuruzzaman and Dr Raihan Rabbani, chest specialist Dr Mortuza Khair, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Fazlul Huq and cardiologist Dr AA Jamil are the members of the medical board headed by Dr Chowdhury.
Azam Khan was detected with oral cancer in 2010 and underwent advanced treatment in Singapore twice that year.
"But he did not complete the full-course of cancer treatment (radiotherapy) in his last visit in November," Dr Chowdhury told bdnews24.com earlier.
He said his oral cancer had spread to other parts of the body, including lungs, liver and bone.
"He [Khan] never followed up his condition. I told him several time over phone to come to the hospital, but he did not. He would only say -- I'll come, I'll come," Dr Chowdhury added.
The 61-year-old Bangladeshi pop guru, who mesmerised thousands of listeners with his imaginative composing and inspired music, was admitted to the Square Hospital on May 22 when the pain increased.
The pioneer of Bangla pop music Azam Khan — full name Mahbubul Haque Khan — was born in February 28, 1950.
He had fought valiantly in the country's Liberation War in 1971 against the Pakistani occupation forces and introduced an energetic brand of music.
His first concert in television was telecast in 1972 on Bangladesh Television (BTV).
His popular songs include "Ore Saleka, Ore Maleka", "Jibone Kichhu Pabona Re", "Ami Jare Chaire", "Ashi Ashi Bole Tumi", "Obhimani", "Rail Liner Oi Bostite", and "Hei Allah, Hei Allah Re".
His fans, relatives and cultural activists gathered at the hospital to know the latest condition of the ailing pop singer.
bdnews24.com/nih/nir/1845h