Following the student-led mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and left the country on August 5. Later, numerous leaders and activists were arrested in various cases over time.
However, questions were circulating in the public's mind regarding whether the widely criticised former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and other senior leaders and activists from the Awami League government had fled the country or travelled abroad.
Under the directive of the former home minister, significant repression was enacted against the anti-discrimination movement led by students and the public, resulting in over fifty cases being filed against him.
On Tuesday, several individuals, including the former home minister, were captured by private television cameras of Bangladesh at Eco Park in Kolkata. Reports indicated that in addition to Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former member of parliament Ashim Kumar Ukil, Apu Ukil and one of Haji Selim's sons were also present.
In response to inquiries about this, Additional Inspector General of Police Md Shah Alam, the chief of the Special Branch told The Business Post, “I have seen reports in the media that several individuals, including the former home minister, were seen in a park in Kolkata. However, there is no information with the Immigration Police regarding how they travelled there.”
He further stated, “I can assure you that none of those seen, including the former home minister, have crossed immigration. There is no record of their departure from the country in the immigration system.”
When questioned about how they managed to leave, the SB chief commented, “Since there is no information in the immigration records, they must have left through illegal means. They could have walked, travelled by vehicle, or crossed the border illegally by land.”
Meanwhile, when asked about the matter, RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Director Lt Col Munim Ferdous, during a press conference on Wednesday, stated, “We do not have any such information. RAB has no details regarding whether the former Home Minister left legally or illegally.”
He further emphasised that there is no issue of negligence or carelessness on RAB's part, affirming, “We are working to the best of our abilities according to our responsibilities and scope of work.”
