Dhaka: Ailing Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was flown to Singapore on Monday for better treatment.

An air ambulance of Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital carrying Quader, also Awami League general secretary, landed at Seletar Airport there around 8pm (BST), said his personal secretary Goutam Chandra, reports the UNB.

He was then taken to Mount Elizabeth Hospital from the airport around 8:50pm (BST) where his treatment began immediately, he said.

The minister, who was undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital with three blockages in coronary arteries, was sent to Singapore for better treatment following the advice of renowned Indian cardiologist Devi Shetty.

The air ambulance carrying Quader took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 4:12 pm.

His wife Isratunnesa Quader, a professor of BSMMU, two doctors, a nurse and a technician of Mount Elizabeth Hospital accompanied Quader.

A delegation of Awami League, led by its joint secretary general Mahbubul Alam Hanif, saw Quader off at the airport.

The decision of sending the Awami League general secretary to Singapore was taken after renowned Indian cardiologist Dr Devi Shetty had examined him at the hospital and suggested taking him to another place abroad.

Later, at a press conference, BSMMU Vice-chancellor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua said, ‘I’m confident to shift him (Quader) now and the process is underway. Indian cardiologist Shetty recommended shifting Obaidul Quader to another place abroad for better treatment as his condition is relatively safe now.’

The VC further said, ‘This is the optimum time to shift him. If his condition deteriorates further it’ll be relatively riskier to move him then.’

He also said the minister’s blood pressure improved while diabetes came under control.

The VC said the Indian physician appreciated BSMMU doctors for ensuring wonderful treatment to Quader. ‘Had it been in Europe or America, the same treatment would have been given,’ Barua quoted Shetty. 

He also said Quader’s condition is now stable, but not out of danger.

The Indian physician arrived at Shahajalal International Airport at 12:45pm on Monday and then straight went to the hospital from the airport.

Half an hour after the VC’s press conference, an ambulance equipped with the facilities of Coronary Care Unit (CCU) left BSMMU carrying Quader around 3:20pm and reached the airport within 20 minutes. 

Earlier on Sunday evening, a three-member medical team from Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital arrived here by an air ambulance and examined Quader.

Obaidul Quader was admitted to the CCU of the hospital on Sunday morning following his breathing complications.

Later, doctors found three blockages in his coronary artery following an angiogram.