In the aftermath of the dramatic collapse of the Awami League government in Bangladesh, political tensions continue to mount as former leaders face a wave of investigations and legal action. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly fled to India, while several senior party figures are now embroiled in criminal proceedings initiated by the interim administration.
Among the latest developments, credible sources confirm that former President Mohammad Abdul Hamid has recently left the country under contentious circumstances. According to immigration records, the 81-year-old boarded a Thai Airways flight from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3 a.m. last week. Surveillance images from the airport show Hamid arriving in traditional attire, accompanied by close family members, including his brother and brother-in-law.
Hamid, a veteran politician who began his career in the student wing of the Awami League, was first elected to Parliament decades ago. He served two consecutive terms as President from 2013 to 2023 during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as Prime Minister. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically in August last year when widespread student protests turned violent, leading to the downfall of the Hasina administration and the formation of a caretaker government led by Yunus.
Subsequent investigations into alleged human rights violations—including the use of lethal force against demonstrators—have placed several former leaders under scrutiny. In January of this year, a murder case was officially registered against Hamid in connection with protest-related violence.
Government sources confirm that a high-level committee has now been established to investigate Hamid’s departure. Several police officials have already been suspended, and others reassigned amid suspicions of negligence or complicity. While Hamid’s family insists that he traveled to Thailand for urgent medical treatment, political opponents claim he fled to avoid prosecution.
Adding further pressure to the embattled party, the Bangladesh government on Monday issued a formal gazette notification banning the Awami League. The ban is to remain in place pending the conclusion of a special tribunal’s inquiry into allegations against the party and its senior leadership.
As the situation evolves, the political future of Bangladesh remains uncertain, with former leaders either in exile, under investigation, or in hiding—marking a turbulent chapter in the nation’s democratic history.
