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Published : 04 Mar 2018, 02:50 PM
Prof Yasmeen Haque’s remarks come amid criticism from various quarters regarding the security provided by his police detail.
“Police were onstage. But if someone suddenly pulls out a weapon on an open stage as hundreds of students are celebrating … there is little to be done,” she said in answer to a question from the media at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday.
Prof Iqbal was attacked from behind during an event at Sylhet’s Shahjalal University of Science and Technology on Saturday. He received injuries on his head, back and hand and was transferred to the CMH in Dhaka.
A police detail had been assigned to the writer, who is an outspoken opponent of militancy and communalism, in October 2016 following death threats from Islamist militants.
Prof Iqbal was injured in the presence of the additional security.
Teachers and students detained the attacker, Faizur Rahman, also known as Faizul, afterwards.
He identified himself as a madrasa student, dubbed Iqbal an ‘enemy of Islam’, saying he was attempting to kill him for this reason.
Prof Yasmeen Haque, wife of Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, speaks to the media at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on Saturday. Photo: asif mahmud ove
Prof Yasmeen Haque spoke to the media after doctors provided a brief update on her husband’s condition.
“The police are with us 24 hours a day,” she said. “They have provided substantial protection. I do not believe it is right to blame the government or the police at this point.”
She described the situation, saying that there were many people around the professor due to the open nature of the stage.
“I believe he could have caused more damage if he was carrying a larger weapon,” she said.
A Special Branch (SB) police officer was injured in his attempts to stop the attacker, said Haque, a physics professor.
“The police tried and they did stop it.”
The police have provided security for them with ‘extreme sincerity’ for the past two years, she said.
“In fact, Zafar Iqbal would often say to them ‘Why are you here? Please go.’”
She said she first heard of the attack from her husband.
“He called around 5:30 or 5:45 and said ‘I’ve been attacked. I am healthy and am being taken to the hospital. I am calling you because I do not want you to hear about this on TV. I am bleeding, but I will tell you now that I am fine in case I cannot speak to you later.’”
Haque also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“She made arrangements to bring him here on her own initiative. I heard she called the teachers to make sense of the situation.”
Haque said her father was also a senior doctor of the Army Corps.
“This is why I am comfortable. Zafar Iqbal is in good health. He is being taken care of. Someone asked whether we will take him abroad for treatment – I have complete confidence in the care provided here.”
Prof Haque said her husband was mentally stable and will recover quickly. She hopes he will be able to return to campus soon.
She said it is important to remain undaunted by threats and attacks.
“They threaten us year after year, but does this mean we will stop everything and live as if we are imprisoned? I believe we should freely interact with our students.”
