"We will start interrogating him when doctors say his health condition has improved enough," Additional Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Col Mahbub Alam Mollah told The Daily Star last night.

Since his arrest, injured Bangla Bhai uttered only a few words in a low voice, said doctors at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and Rab officials.

"He asked for clean clothes and washing him with clean water," doctor Mohammad Ali Siddiquy, an assistant professor of anaesthesia department of Mymensingh Medical College said.

"Pray for me so that I can go to the gallows with a smile," the doctor quoted him as saying.

Talking to journalists at the home ministry yesterday afternoon, Rab officials said the infamous militant leader looked furious when he sensed that Rab members had cordoned him.

"He did not even hesitate to shoot Sergeant Rafiq to the head when he tried to peep into the room to see whether Bangla Bhai was inside," a Rab officer said, adding, "As we neared the house, we heard Bangla Bhai saying inside the room that we [Rab members] had gone there to get reward by arresting him."

Despite suffering injuries in the bomb explosion, Bangla Bhai was looking furious, said a Rab officer.

Even when he came out following my order, he seemed unbending, he said.

As reporters asked whether killing of people is approved in Islam, injured bodyguard of Bangla Bhai said as he was being carried to the MMCH, "It is legal in Islam to kill the taguts (enemies of the Almighty)."