Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday visited ailing Hefajat‐e Islam Amir Shah Ahmed Shafi at a hospital in Dhaka.

Fakhrul along with party leader Mir Mohammad Nasir went to Asgar Ali Hospital in old Dhaka around 1:30pm.

On Tuesday, the 95‐year‐old Hefajat ameer was airlifted to the hospital at Gendaria in the capital by a helicopter as he has been suffering from various old‐age complications, including high‐blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory problem.

Coming out of the hospital, Fakhrul told reporters, ‘Mr Shafi is seriously ill and he has been kept at the ICU of the hospital. We’ve visited him …his condition is very critical now.’

The BNP leader said the physicians told him that the Hefajat chief’s condition has improved slightly, but it will take time to fully recover. ‘We hope he’ll recover quickly.’

Quoting Dr ARM Nuruzzaman of the hospital, Fakhrul said Shafi has been suffering from urinary infection, pneumonia,

high‐blood pressure, diabetic and cardiac problems. ‘He is a little bit stable now, but not out of danger.’