After the fall of the Hasina government in the face of an unforgettable coup by the students protesting the unprecedented misrule and arbitrariness, almost all of the ministers and MPs who obeyed her have covered their backs. Many members of the Awami League cabinet have already left the country. However, many of those who could not leave the country are fleeing in fear of their lives.
Meanwhile, several ministers and MPs are said to be staying in the cantonment under army custody after escaping. Besides, there are reports that some members of the cabinet have sought refuge in different embassies for safety. Earlier, special alert was issued at all airports of the country to prevent MP-ministers from leaving the country.
According to sources, many of the ministers-MPs known to be influential could not be contacted since Monday morning. Many people’s mobile phones were switched off. Especially Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Haque went to an unknown place. Earlier, Hasina government’s powerful adviser Salman F Rahman, Finance Minister Mahmud Ali, Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastgir Gazi and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas left the country by air for an unknown destination.
Some of these ministers left the country soon after the student movement began in July. Later, considering the hostile situation, they did not consider it safe to return to the country. On Sunday night, the family members of Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud left the country by flight EK 586. Their destination was Dubai Airport in United Arab Emirates. Immediately after this, news of ministers-MPs leaving the country in mass spread on social media.
According to the sources, many of the ministers and MPs could not leave the country even after making a hundred attempts at the last minute. They contacted various airlines for tickets for two days on Sunday and Monday but failed. Many were able to send their family members abroad safely but could not go themselves. Among them, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat, State Minister for Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak are said to be hiding in the country. Especially Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel was staying at his Banani residence till Monday afternoon. Since the evening when the news of the collapse of the government spread, the leaders and activists lost contact with him.
Earlier on Sunday, many ministers-MPs and businessmen close to the government wrote letters to the immigration police at Shahjalal International Airport asking for a special protocol. According to the list signed by Nachima Shaheen, Assistant Director of Evsec, who is engaged in airport security, among the ministers-MPs outside the country are Works Minister RM Ubaidul Moktadir (BG 398), former Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastgir Gazi, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali (BG 584), local Government Minister Tajul Islam (BG 388), former Whip Nur-i Alam Chowdhury (BG 388), Agriculture Minister Abdus Shahid (BG 388) and former Lands Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed (EK 587), MP Nur-e Hasna Lily Chowdhury and her family (EK 585), former Uttara area MP Habib Hasan (BG 584) and JP chief and former minister Anwar Hossain Manju (SQ 474) left the country by flight no.
Besides, several businessmen, judges and high-ranking bureaucrats have left the country. Among them are Senior Secretary and Information Commissioner Suraiya Begum, Senior Secretary of Shipping Ministry Mohammad Mostafa Kamal and former Chairman of Security Exchange Commission Shibli Rubayet Ul Islam, Leader of Bank Association and Chairman of Private Exim Bank Nazrul Islam Majumdar, Business leaders Jasim Uddin, Imranur Rahman, Mohiuddin Monen. And Abdur Waheed.
Along with the ministers and MPs, their personal officers are also in danger. In particular, there are reports that the former protocol officer of the Home Minister, Monir Hossain, was killed by the police. However, a businessman close to Monir told Yugant on Monday night that the death is a rumour. He is healthy. He is currently staying in hiding for the safety of himself and his family. Apart from this, the public relations officer of the ministry Sharif Mahmud Apu has fled.
From Sunday night, the news of the departure of ministers and MPs spread on Facebook. Even the flight number of several people and pictures of sitting inside the plane started coming. But there was no way to confirm the truth of these reports in the angry situation. Even until she resigned and left the country, no one from the outside could see such a bad situation in Hasina’s government. Even the news that Sheikh Hasina is going to resign from the post of Prime Minister could not even be reported.
Meanwhile, the discussed social welfare minister Dr. Deepu Moni took cover soon after the fall of the government. An angry mob burnt down his village house in Chandpur. Besides, former MP of Chittagong-3 Constituency (Sandwip) Mahfuzur Rahman alias Mita rushed to Dhaka to leave the country with his family. He appeared at Shahjalal Airport at 5 pm. But he returned to the news of the airport closure. Later he tried to enter Gulshan’s house but failed. Later he went to an unknown place with his wife and children.
Sandwip representative of Yugantar said that Sandwip residents, fed up with his misrule, sought him out. Later, mobs took possession of his illegal wealth of hundreds of crores of rupees in the local Enam Nahar area. At this time, various slogans were given demanding hanging of Mahfuzur Rahman.