Kishore to undergo ear, eye surgeries

Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore will undergo ear and eye surgeries as he suffered major damage to the organs during custodial tortures.

The doctors prescribed the operations after assessing several medical reports, his relatives said.

Quoting his doctors, Kishore's brother Ahsan Kabir said, "The complications on Kishore's right ear are severe. A canal has been developed following the torture during his detention. Kishore might be forced to use a hearing aid for the next few months."

Kishore's diabetes is getting under control to some extent. The pain from his leg injuries is also reducing, but his ears damage show no signs of a major recovery, said the elder brother.

"Kishore does not have proper eyesight and he cannot hear," Ahsan added.

Since his release on Thursday, Kishore is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital and doctors are monitoring his condition every day.

Kishore was released from jail custody on Thursday after 10 months in detention following his arrest in a Digital Security Act case lodged in early May 2020 for criticising the government on social media.

Kishore's brother said he might go under ear surgery on 10 or 11 March. The doctors will set a hearing aid to his right ear through the operation.

He said, "Pus oozing out of Kishore's ears has stopped after two days of care, but doctors suggested surgery and we also decided to go for that."

Soon after being released on bail, the cartoonist narrated the gruesome torture he was subjected to during detention.

He said his ears were damaged and blood came out due to tortures under the Rapid Action Battalion custody, an allegation the force denied vehemently.

Ahsan said after ear surgery, Kishore will have to undergo cataract surgery as his eyesight has become poor in prison.

"For cataract surgery, Kishore's diabetes must be controlled which was very high after his release. Doctors are bringing the diabetes under control for the surgery," Ahsan added.

The High Court on Wednesday granted the cartoonist a six-month bail as another accused in the case – writer Mushtaq Ahmed – died in Gazipur's high-security Kashimpur jail on 25 February after being denied bail six times.

Kishore was arrested on similar charges as writer Mushtaq, which included propagating disinformation against the government on social media, in a case under the Digital Security Act.