TOFAIL AHMED, 82, veteran Awami League leader and survivor of Bangladesh’s turbulent independence struggle, marked progress in his health Monday after 145 days under care at Square Hospitals Ltd in Dhaka.

Hospital chief operating officer Md Esam Ebne Yousuf Siddique told reporters the patient had shifted from intensive units to a standard cabin. “He is currently undergoing treatment in a cabin and so far doing better,” Siddique said. “However, if necessary, he is occasionally taken to the CCU or ICU.”

Ahmed’s condition has stabilized enough that he now reacts when spoken to and identifies relatives, according to the hospital update. He entered treatment on Sept. 27, 2024, amid a nationwide crackdown that banned Awami League activities. False rumors of his death circulated on social media Oct. 4, quickly refuted by family members who confirmed he remained alive and stable.

Ahmed holds a seat on the Awami League’s advisory council, though the party’s operations stand suspended under current restrictions. His political journey began in Bhola district, where he was born in 1943. By 1967, as vice president of Dhaka University Student Union, he channeled student fury against Pakistan’s military regime.

The 1969 mass uprising elevated Ahmed to national prominence. At 27, he won election to Pakistan’s National Assembly in 1970. Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War cemented his role as a frontline leader.

Post-independence, Ahmed’s career flourished. Voters sent him to parliament nine times. He served in multiple ministerial posts, handling decades of Bangladesh politics marked by coups, elections and unrest.

Square Hospitals Ltd, a private facility in Dhaka’s Panthapath area, has managed Ahmed’s care through respiratory issues and other age-related complications, officials said. Siddique noted steady gains since admission, though full recovery details remain guarded.

Ahmed’s improvement draws attention amid Awami League’s sidelined status. The party, once dominant under Sheikh Hasina’s long rule, faces bans and arrests following August 2024 protests that toppled the government. Hasina fled to India as student-led unrest forced her resignation.

Family members have visited regularly, sources close to the hospital confirmed. No discharge date has been set. Medical teams continue monitoring in the cabin setting, with ICU access as backup.

Bangladesh’s political veterans like Ahmed embody the 1971 generation’s enduring influence. His recovery highlights personal resilience against a backdrop of national upheaval.