Bangladesh's Former IT, Foreign Ministers Detained While Trying To Flee Country Amid Unrest

Bangladesh’s former Information and Technology minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak was detained at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday while attempting to flee the country amid the massive deadly protests.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the state minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology in the ousted Awami League government was held while attempting to flee to India. He is under the custody of the Air Force, local reports claimed.

Additionally, foreign minister in the Hasina government, Hasan Mahmud was also arrested at the airport, according to Daily Bangladesh. He was trying to escape the country but failed and later tried to escape through a land port on the India-Bangladesh border, but was held.

The developments came a day after Awami League party chief Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and fled from the violence-hit nation to India following month long massive anti-government protests across the country.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament earlier on Tuesday following an ultimatum from student protesters. After Hasina’s ousted, several ministers and Awami League leaders have been trying to flee from Bangladesh to escape the wrath of protesters.

The embattled leader fled to India on Monday and is currently at Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad. She is reported to remain in the country until she is granted a political asylum. Hasina, 76, is seeking an asylum in the UK. While she is exploring options for asylum in European countries, reports indicate that the UK is not prepared to grant her refuge. Sources suggest that her sister, Rehana, who holds UK citizenship, may leave for the UK shortly.

Additionally, Hasina’s visa has been revoked by the United States, according to insider sources close to the opposition in Bangladesh. This development comes amid reports that Western nations, including the US, sought her ousting from power.

Offices of her party Awam League across Bangladesh were torched and looted.

Protesters stormed parliament and burnt TV stations. Footage showed some smashing the statue of Ms Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s independence hero.

On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that Hasina reached out to India for safe passage following her abrupt resignation. Delivering a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said that Hasina received approval to travel to India at “very short notice”.

Bangladesh’s Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman took over the administration and announced the formation of an interim government moments after Hasina resigned from her post. In a television address the General confirmed Hasina’s resignation and took the responsibility of the government. The Army chief said he had met political leaders and told them the Army would take over responsibility for law and order. As protests spiralled across the country, he said he had asked both Army and police not to fire any shots.

The country was marred by massive protests over the controversial quota system that reserves 30 per cent of the government jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.

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