Ahmad Rafique was placed on life support at BIRDEM Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after the Language Movement veteran's health worsened. The poet and Rabindra scholar remains unconscious in the intensive care unit under the supervision of Dr. Kaniz Fatema. Rafique has battled kidney disease for years and suffered multiple strokes in recent weeks.
Officials transferred Rafique to BIRDEM on Sunday from Health & Hope Hospital after treatment proved inadequate at the Panthapath facility. Cultural Affairs Ministry representatives visited him between Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 and pledged government support for his care. Supporters continue awaiting promised assistance for the 96-year-old scholar.
Rafique lives alone in rented quarters in New Eskaton's Gaushnagar and has no surviving family after his wife died in 2006. The Brahmanbaria native authored more than 100 books on the Language Movement and earned the Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Literary Award. Kolkata's Tagore Research Institute honored him with the Rabindratattwacharya title for his scholarship on Rabindranath Tagore.
Officials transferred Rafique to BIRDEM on Sunday from Health & Hope Hospital after treatment proved inadequate at the Panthapath facility. Cultural Affairs Ministry representatives visited him between Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 and pledged government support for his care. Supporters continue awaiting promised assistance for the 96-year-old scholar.
Rafique lives alone in rented quarters in New Eskaton's Gaushnagar and has no surviving family after his wife died in 2006. The Brahmanbaria native authored more than 100 books on the Language Movement and earned the Ekushey Padak and Bangla Academy Literary Award. Kolkata's Tagore Research Institute honored him with the Rabindratattwacharya title for his scholarship on Rabindranath Tagore.
