Prof Zafar Iqbal 'out of danger', his attacker admits guilt

Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal was feeling well and out of danger, said a doctor on Sunday at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, reports UNB.

He suffered serious injuries in a knife attack on the campus of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Saturday afternoon,

"His mental health condition is also well," said Major General Munshi Md Mujibur Rahman, a consultant surgeon and director general of medical services at the CMH at a press briefing.

"Visitors have been restricted to avoid any kind of infection," said the doctor seeking cooperation from all.

Zafar Iqbal bears four injury marks - one in his head, one in left hand and another in backside, Mujibur Rahman said.

The doctor said the eminent writer received injuries on the skin and muscles of his head.

Dr Yesmeen Huq, wife of Dr Zafar Iqbal, said on Sunday her husband was doing well at the CMH.

She also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for asking the Air Force for airlifting Zafar Iqbal to the CMH in Dhaka immediately after the attack on him.

She said her husband phoned her around 5:40pm on Saturday, saying, "I'm fine. It's bleeding but don't worry."

"I don't blame anyone. I would like to clearly say police have been performing their duties to enforce security for the last two years.

There was no fault on their part in ensuring security. The attack happened unfortunately," said Dr Yesmeen while responding to queries from reporters at the CMH admin building.

Besides, the authorities concerned of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) filed a case over the attack on Sunday afternoon, said Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Jalalabad Police Station in Sylhet.

Law enforcers, in separate drives, detained two uncles of attacker Faizur Rahman from Sunamganj and Sylhet respectively on Saturday night.

The detained attacker was handed over to Rab for interrogation.

Lt Col Ali Haider Azad Ahmed, CO of Rapid Action battalion (Rab-9), claimed that attacker Faizur confessed to the law enforcers that he attacked Dr Zafar as 'he is an enemy of Islam'.

Earlier, Prof Zafar Iqbal came under attack at Mukta Mancha of SUST during the two-day celebration programme, 'Robofight,' of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department on Saturday.