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Professor Ghulam Azam’s wife Mrs Syeda Afifa Azam expressed concern about the life of her husband in a statement. She went to see Prof Azam in the BSMMU hospital prison on Friday along with her son and a granddaughter where she found her husband in a very frail condition. The statement is given below:

“We are shocked at the behaviour of the hospital and prison authorities in spite of advice from the specialists. He is becoming thinner and increasingly weaker day by day because of the lack of nutritious food, and if this continues, anything may happen to him. I call upon the hospital and prison authorities to ensure he receives nutritious food.”

“After seeing him today, I am worried about my husband’s life. At 10.30 am on Friday, the prison authorities agreed 3.30 pm for me to meet my husband at the prison cell. When I arrived there on time, the authorities of the prison cell made me, an 80 year old woman, wait for an hour without even having the courtesy to give reasons. The man (my husband) who left the house for court 16 days ago on 11 January 2012 walking was almost unrecognizable today. He was so weak that he could merely sit on his bed with the help of two people. He is not able to have a single meal in peace. “

“An 89-year-old man needs constant care and support,, whereas he even has to [perform menial tasks such as] washing his own plate. The inhuman behaviour towards him shown by the hospital and prison authorities is a gross violation of human rights. After many oral and written efforts, we could not yet provide him with Qur’an, Hadith, Qur’an Translation and Tafsir (commentary) for the last 17 days that could keep him going in his solitary life. In spite of trying for two weeks, no barber was arranged for him. After the specialist’s recommendation and many oral and written applications, he was allowed some additional foods on Thursday. He is not getting the types of food he needs.  There have been around 10-12 applications to the hospital and prison authorities most of which have not even been replied. The way both the authorities are trying to avoid our family is hurtful and extremely discourteous. “

“The incident that caused us the greatest concern is that he was about to fall down in the bathroom  due to weakness while having a shower on Wednesday. In that condition, he somehow sat down on the bathroom floor. Then he tried for half an hour to get up with his knees on the floor and hands on the commode and basin, but failed to get up. Finally, he called a security guard who helped him get up, but injured his knees in the process. It was, in his language, ‘One of the most difficult days of my life’.  Overall, we are very concerned about his life. The indifferent attitude, behaviour and neglect of the authorities are very inhuman. We want an immediate solution to his problems.”