Ershad put on life support again as his health deteriorates, party official says

HM Ershad has been put on life support as the Jatiya Party chairman’s health has deteriorated while undergoing treatment at hospital in Dhaka, a party leader says.

Doctors at the Combined Military Hospital or CMH put the leader of the opposition in parliament on life support at 4:10pm on Thursday after his health started worsening in the morning, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said.

He was put on life support on July 1 before his health briefly improved.

After visiting Ershad about 2pm on Thursday, his wife and the party‘s Senior Co-chairman Raushon Ershad said all the papers on his health were sent to the General Hospital in Singapore.

The party and the family will take a decision after the doctors in Singapore give their opinion, according to Raushon, who is also the deputy of Ershad in parliament.  

“The doctors here are trying their best for his treatment,” she said.   

The 89-year-old deposed military dictator has been suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome or a low level of haemoglobin in his blood.

He was diagnosed with lung infection and kidney ailment after he was admitted to the CMH on June 22.

“The complications are too much considering the problem in his blood coupled with his age. Now all his organs are getting weak,” Raushon said and urged all to pray for her husband’s recovery.

Speaking to the media earlier in the morning, Ershad’s brother and the party’s Acting Chairman GM Quader expressed concerns over the “unchanged condition” of Ershad's health. 

"His condition remained unchanged which is not a good sign," Quader said.

"His drowsiness has increased. He is sleeping most of the time. The level of urea has increased in his blood, which has made him more sleepy," he said quoting doctors.

“The doctors feel that it is not a good sign that he is sleeping most of the time," he added.

The doctors were trying to reduce the level of urea in Ershad's blood, according to Quader.

Infections in Ershad’s lungs and kidneys “did not improve much” either, he said.

“He has fluid retention, but his body could not flush out the fluid because his kidneys are functioning less," Quader said.

The party is prepared to send Ershad to Singapore, Jatiya Party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga said on Wednesday.

But Ershad was not in a state to fly to Singapore, Quader said on Thursday.

"We don't see the need for doctors to fly into Dhaka from Singapore to treat him at the moment as it will consume time. Besides this, senior doctors are not willing to come," said Quader.

"The doctors here said they'll let us know if the doctors from Singapore should be brought to Dhaka," he said and expressed his confidence in the physicians at the CMH.

"They are equipped to provide any treatment needed at any point in time," he said.