Quader gradually improving

Condition of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who is undergoing treatment at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, is gradually improving, said a Bangladeshi physician yesterday.

“His blood pressure has become normal while his kidneys are functioning normally and infections have come under control,” said Prof Abu Nasar Rizvi, of neuromedicine department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), quoting a member of the medical board treating Quader.

Rizvi said Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, is now much better than Thursday as his condition was improving day by day. “Besides, his respiratory system is working without any artificial support.”

Earlier, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Sivathasan Cumaraswamy, a medical board member, held a briefing on the treatment of the ailing minister.

Quader's wife Isratunnesa Quader, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore Mostafizur Rahman and Sheikh Helal, MP, were present at the briefing.

Medical board chief Dr Koh Siam Soon Philip, a senior consultant of cardiology department at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, will brief on the update of the treatment at 11:30am (local time) today.

The minister was flown to Singapore on Monday for better treatment following the advice of renowned Indian cardiologist Dr Devi Shetty.

He was admitted to the CCU of BSMMU on Sunday following his breathing complications.

Later, doctors found three blockages in his coronary arteries following an angiogram. A five-member medical board was constituted with Dr Philip Koh as its head for the treatment of Quader at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

Other board members are Dr Sivathasan Cumaraswamy, infectious disease specialist Dr Asok Kurup, urologist Dr Ho Siew Hong and intensive care medicine specialist Sim Kah Ming.

After extensively examining Quader on Tuesday morning, the medical board said they were thinking of conducting a bypass surgery on the minister. But it was delayed due to slight problems in his kidney and infections.