In a new development, it has been reported that former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, a key figure in the much-criticised Awami League government, has fled the country.
This comes amid public speculation about the whereabouts of high-ranking Awami League members, many of whom have remained out of the public eye.
Recent reports indicate that Asaduzzaman Khan and others were spotted in an amusement park in Kolkata, raising questions about how they managed to leave Bangladesh.
The former home minister, under whose tenure unprecedented repression was carried out during the student anti-discrimination movement, faces over fifty cases. The mystery surrounding his departure has drawn widespread attention.
No immigration record
When asked how the former minister left the country, Md Shah Alam, Additional Inspector General of the Special Branch of Police (SB), stated, “I’ve seen media reports that several individuals, including the home minister, were seen in a park in Kolkata. However, the immigration police have no records of their departure.”
He confirmed that there is no information about Asaduzzaman Khan or the others having crossed immigration legally. "If they didn’t pass through immigration, it’s highly likely they used illegal routes—possibly crossing by foot, vehicle, or another land-based method,” he added.
RAB denies knowledge
RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) also distanced itself from the situation. Lieutenant Colonel Munim Ferdous, Director of RAB's Legal and Media Wing, stated, “We have no information about the former Home Minister's legal or illegal departure.” When asked whether this constituted negligence on RAB’s part, he clarified that RAB has been fulfilling its duties diligently, within the scope of its responsibilities.
Spotted in Kolkata
On Tuesday (October 1), a Bangladeshi private television camera captured footage of Asaduzzaman Khan in Kolkata's Eco Park. He was reportedly accompanied by several other prominent individuals, including Apu Ukil, Asim Kumar Ukil, and a son of Haji Selim.
While the presence of these individuals in Kolkata has been confirmed, the lack of official immigration records only deepens the mystery surrounding how they managed to leave Bangladesh, fueling further speculation about illegal border crossings.