Bangladesh govt chief back at work after collapse

DHAKA, June 4 (Reuters) Fakhruddin Ahmed, head of Bangladesh's army-backed interim government, resumed work today, a day after he briefly lost consciousness in hot and humid weather while addressing a function outside the capital.

Government officials said Fakhruddin had fully recovered and rested well before heading back to work. Yesterday he told reporters after a check-up at a Dhaka military hospital, that he was in good health.

Fakhruddin, 64, was addressing a tree plantation programme in Tangail, 100 km north from Dhaka, when he lost consciousness and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital.

''He was exhausted due to hot and humid weather while delivering a long speech,'' Fakhruddin's Press Secretary Fahim Munaim told reporters after he was flown to the capital.

Bangladesh has been hit by a heat wave over the past week, with temperatures fluctuating between 35 and 42 degrees Celsius.

Over 25 people have died of heatstroke across the country in the past week, health officials said. Rains today in parts of the country, including Dhaka, brought some relief.

REUTERS LPB DS1145