Bangladesh's former IT minister detained while attempting to flee country
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Bangladesh's former Information and Technology Minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, was detained at Dhaka International Airport while attempting to leave the country.
The detention occurred a day after the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as the military, which has established an interim government, tightened its control over the violence-stricken nation.
Reports indicate that Ahmed was approached by airport officials while waiting in the VIP lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He was subsequently detained by Air Force personnel.
According to sources, he was trying to fly to India, where former PM Sheikh Hasina also fled on Monday following violent protests that saw demonstrators breach her palace.
The unrest in Bangladesh, which began in early July as protests against civil service job quotas, has escalated into widespread violence and calls for Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Yesterday marked the deadliest day of the protests, with mobs launching attacks on the offices of her party, the Awami League, which were torched and looted nationwide.
Protesters also stormed parliament and burned TV stations, with some smashing the statue of Sheikh Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's independence hero.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at a military airbase near New Delhi on Monday evening. Sources suggest she intended to travel onward to London, but there has been no confirmation of her schedule or current location. The UK government has stated that its immigration rules do not allow individuals to seek asylum or temporary refuge unless they do so in the first safe country they reach, as per a statement from the UK Home Office to NDTV.
The military's ultimatum reportedly forced Sheikh Hasina to resign, giving her only 45 minutes to step down.
The army chief met with President Mohammed Shahabuddin and key opposition leaders late Monday, and it was announced that an interim government would be formed immediately. President Shahabuddin also ordered the release of prisoners detained during the protests, including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, a long-time rival of Sheikh Hasina.