3 cops removed, withdrawn over Hamid’s escape

Two police officials have been removed and another has been withdrawn for negligence to duty over the escape of former President Abdul Hamid from the country.

The investigation officer of the case filed against Abdul Hamid with Sadar police station in Kishoreganj, and an official of Police’s Special Branch (SB) were suspended, while an additional superintendent of Immigration Police was withdrawn, Inamul Haque Sagar, AIG (media and PR) at the Police Headquarters, said on Thursday evening, May 8.

Hamid, accused of ties to the ousted Awami League government, fled on a Thai Airways flight at 3:05am on Thursday, nine months after the regime’s fall in a student-led uprising.

Sources in the Immigration Police told Jago News that Abdul Hamid is in very poor health. Citing a lack of security, he did not receive treatment at any hospital in the country. Instead, seeking advanced medical care abroad, he arrived at the airport around 11:00pm last night, dressed as a regular passenger. At the time, he was wearing a face mask and a cap. After completing the necessary immigration checks, he was cleared for departure.

A senior official from the Immigration Department of the police’s Special Branch (SB) told Jago News, "We learnt about Abdul Hamid's departure only after arriving at work this morning. He cited medical treatment as the reason for his foreign travel."

On January 14, a case was filed against Abdul Hamid with Sadar police station in Kishoreganj. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other leaders of the Awami League were also named in the same case.

When asked why Hamid was allowed to leave the country despite this, the immigration official said, "We were aware of the case filed in Kishoreganj against him. However, no travel ban was issued against him by the court or the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Therefore, there was no legal bar to his foreign travel. Moreover, he is physically unwell."