A seriously ill Language Movement hero and freedom fighter of the town has appealed to the prime minister and kind hearted people to help him in his medical treatment.

Shamsul Haque, 88, of Khochabari BDR Hat Road in the town has been advised to undergo Stem Cell Therapy, but it is expensive.

“I'm feeling pain in my body and I can't move freely,” Shamsul said. “I depend on the freedom fighter's allowance, most of which is spent for purchasing medicine every month,” he added.

Comrade Shamsul Haque was a Class IX student during the Language Movement in 1952, and he was sent to jail several times for holding rallies. He was determined to save his mother language, so he motivated students in the town to stand against any conspiracy by the Pakistan authorities. He was an organiser of freedom fighters during the Liberation War.

He was president of the district unit of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) from 1973 to 1988 and is an executive member of district CPB now.

Dr Bholanath Bhattacharjee, former chief medical officer of Bangladesh Railway, said at least Tk 5 lakh is needed for Stem Cell Therapy.