Two dozen ministers, MPs leave country during quota movement

Mirza Mehedi Tamal with Shakhawat Kawser

Many ruling party ministers and lawmakers left the country during the mayhem of the recent quota-reform movement. On the other hand, many returned to the country from abroad hearing the unrest. On July 14, many influential persons bought tickets for the air flights and left the country smelling deteriorated situation of the country. They visit in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Australia, India, Thailand, China, and Dubai.

The country’s renowned personalities termed the situation as unfortunate. Sources at the Awami League said foreign trips during unrest by some ministers and lawmakers created criticism in the party. Chaos was created in the meeting of the party mentioning their names.

Professor Mijanur Rahman, former Vice Chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU), told Bangladesh Pratidin that the situation had been created due to the unwanted presence of intruders in the party. When they saw the weak situation of the party, they hid themselves. No Awami League man was found to attend the talk shows on the television during the days of recent unrest.

Sources said former Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal) along with his five family members left the country on a flight of Emirates Airlines for London at 1:10 am on July 15. The following day, Dhaka-16 constituency lawmaker Al-Haj Elias Uddin Mollah also left Dhaka for London. He, however, returned to the country on July 26 by a Biman Bangladesh flight. Former Railways Minister Mujibul Haque and 11 members of his family left the country for Dubai around 11:00 pm on July 16 on a flight of Emirate Airlines.

Immigration sources said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali along with her four family members left Dhaka for Malaysia on July 16. Two more lawmakers left the country on the same day. Mymensingh-8 seat parliamentarian Mahmud Hasan Sumon and his four family members went to Singapore while Abu Zafar Mohammad Shafi Uddin of Cumilla-8 constituency (Barura) left the country for China. Chattogram-1 seat lawmaker Mahboob Ur Rahman left Dhaka at 1:11 am on July 17 for Sydney, Australia on a flight of Hong Kong Airlines. He has gone to his family staying in Sydney. Awami League lawmaker Moshiur Rahman Mollah Sajal of Dhaka-5 constituency was staying in India during the unrest in the country.

According to the sources, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury returned to the country from the United States on July 17. Saber and his spouse landed at the Dhaka airport at 11:22 pm in a fight with Emirate Airlines. Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, parliamentarian of the Bhola-4 constituency, went to Dubai on July 27 when the situation was normal. When contacted, Jakob said he stayed at his constituency during the quota-reform movement. There was no serious impact of the quota movement in his locality, said the lawmaker.

Former Foreign Minister AKM Abdul Momen was in the United States. He returned to the country on July 28. Lawmaker Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon and his wife returned to the country from Thailand on July 26 on a flight of Thai Airlines at 12:15 pm. Jashore-3 seat parliamentarian Kazi Nabil Ahmed and one of his family members went to India on July 29. They left Dhaka for Kolkata at 12:40 pm on a flight from Novo Airlines. Parveen Zaman, a lawmaker from reserved seats for women went to Singapore on July 26. She left Dhaka airport at 11:30 pm on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. On the other hand, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon MP of Faridpur-4 seat returned to the country from Bangkok by the flight of Thai Airlines at 11:54 pm on July 23. Mymensingh-3 parliamentarian Nilufar Anjum Poppy returned to the country from London at 7:52 pm on July 25 by the flight of Emirates Airlines.

State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan and two other officials left Dhaka for Canada on July 25. It is known that they went on a state visit. Chattogram-10 constituency lawmaker Mohiuddin Bacchu returned to the country from Toronto, Canada on July 28. Shafiqur Rahman and his wife from Chandpur-4 constituency went to the United States on July 18. Brahmanbaria-5 MP Fayzur Rahman along with three members of his family returned to the country on July 27. Cumilla-3 lawmaker Jahangir Alam along with three family members left Dhaka for Singapore on July 28. Former Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque and his family members went to Singapore on July 18.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on August 1, 2024, and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.