What does the interim government really know, asks Tarique on ex-president Hamid’s departure

The BNP's Acting Chairman Tareque Rahman has raised questions over former President Abdul Hamid's departure from Bangladesh under the watch of the interim government.

Speaking virtually from London at an event in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, he said: “A former president from the time of the fugitive despotic regime has left the country through the airport. The way he [Hamid] left is strikingly similar to how someone else fled on the 5th of August.

“Yet now we hear the interim government claims to know nothing about this departure.”

He added, “The incident occurred [Thursday], and everyone I’ve spoken to since is asking: what exactly does the interim government know?”

"Allegations have emerged that the interim government, under the guise of reform, is deliberately delaying matters—possibly to facilitate the safe departure of autocrats and their allies, while also tactically creating issues to fracture the unity among anti-fascist political parties active on the ground."

Tarique also brought up the issue of constitutional reform. “The BNP has clearly presented its proposal to the interim government on this matter.

“To establish a representative government accountable to the people through their votes, it has continued to extend its cooperation and support to the interim government in every aspect,” he said.

The BNP leader, however, warned that recent developments are causing “doubt”.

“If we observe recent developments, doubts are gradually emerging among different segments of society over whether the interim government is truly demonstrating the capacity to carry out its responsibilities,” he said.