"He can now talk, at least tries to. His health has improved from yesterday (Tuesday), although he still falls unconsciousness at times," Azad's wife Latifa Kohinoor said yesterday.

"Tears rolled down his cheeks as he was able to recognise me when I was at the intensive care unit," Latifa, visiting her husband at 10:30am, said, adding Azad tried to say something but she could not understand.

About the talk that Azad might be sent to Singapore for treatment, she said, "We don't know anything about that. Neither the doctors nor anyone from the government talked to us about sending him abroad."

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a medical bulletin released at 11:00am yesterday said Azad's overall condition was slowly improving, but more intensive care is required for recovery.

Quoting Azad's health review by senior specialists of the armed forces, the ISPR bulletin said his condition remained stable with normal pulse, temperature, respiration and blood pressure.

"He can sit with assistance. He is getting liquid food through a nasal tube. His level of consciousness remains unchanged. He can recognise people," the bulletin said.

He is still drowsy from medication and has yet not regained normal orientation of time and space, the ISPR said.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested another youth, Golam Mostafa alias Mostafa Mahbub, from Moghbazar on Tuesday in connection with the attack on Prof Azad.

"I have obtained some information from him which is now being verified," said CID inspector Kazi Abdul Malek who investigating the attack, but refused to comment on identities of the attackers at this point.

Police produced Golam Mostafa before the court yesterday. The court sent him to Dhaka Central Jail.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Abu Abbas Bhuiyan arrested Saturday for his alleged involvement in the attack was sent to jail on Tuesday after being produced before the Court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate the same day.

Abbas, joint secretary of Dhaka University's Sir AF Rahman Hall unit of the BCL, was remanded on February 29.

His defence lawyers said he was severely tortured during the five-day remand. "Despite brutal torture, police failed to make him say that Awami League planned the attack on Prof Azad. Abbas was neither involved in the attack nor knew anything about it, so he could say nothing," a defence lawyer said Tuesday.

The defence lawyers submitted a bail petition for Abbas, but the court rejected it and sent him to jail.

Two unidentified youths stabbed Prof Azad in front of the Bangla Academy Friday night.