Former B’deshi President Abdul Hamid Leaves Bangladesh for Bangkok Amid Political Turmoil
Former Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid has reportedly left the country, months after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the violent July uprising. According to local media, Hamid departed for Bangkok on Thursday aboard a Thai Airways flight, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune. Hamid, a prominent leader of the Awami League, served as Bangladesh’s President for two consecutive terms from 2013 to 2023 during Sheikh Hasina’s government. After the fall of the Awami League government, a case was filed against Hamid and several others, including Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed (Joy), daughter Saima Wazed (Putul), and several other party leaders. The charges relate to the attack and firing on a demonstration in Kishoreganj during the widespread student movement.
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Despite the case, there was no legal restriction on Hamid’s travel, according to immigration officials. “We were aware of the case filed in Kishoreganj against him. However, there was no travel ban issued by the court or the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding his departure. Therefore, there was no legal bar to his foreign travel. Moreover, he is physically unwell,” said an immigration official when asked why Hamid was allowed to leave the country.
Abdul Hamid departed for Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG340 at 3:05am
Details: https://t.co/16q3kyIofo#AbdulHamid #ThailandTrip #PoliticalNews #StudentUprising #BangladeshPolitics #DhakaTribune pic.twitter.com/V7jy60jHd2
— Dhaka Tribune (@DhakaTribune) May 8, 2025
Hamid previously served as Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of Bangladesh from 2009 to 2013, before being elected as President. As political uncertainty continues, his departure has raised questions about the stability of the Awami League’s leadership.
Political Backdrop and Allegations
After the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took power in August 2024, many senior Awami League leaders fled Bangladesh. The Yunus administration has issued several arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and Awami League supporters, citing various charges related to political violence and corruption.
Analysts believe that the legal actions taken against Hasina and her associates reflect a political vendetta by the interim government. They point out that many of the cases were filed on dubious grounds immediately after Hasina’s ouster, fueling suspicions of politically motivated persecution.
Hasina’s Response from Exile
Sheikh Hasina, who took shelter in India on August 5, has remained vocal against the interim government. In a virtual address to Awami League supporters in February, she accused the Yunus-led administration of transforming Bangladesh into a hub of “terrorism” and “lawlessness.” Hasina, known as a central figure in the fight to restore democracy in Bangladesh, described the current political scenario as an orchestrated campaign to dismantle the Awami League’s influence.
As the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s forced exile and the crackdown on her party have sparked widespread debate over the future of democracy in the country. Her leadership, once a dominant force in Bangladeshi politics, now faces the challenge of survival amidst sweeping changes brought about by the interim government.
The political crisis in Bangladesh remains complex, with Hamid’s departure marking another chapter in the unfolding political upheaval. Observers note that the situation remains fluid, with continued tensions between the Awami League and the interim administration under Yunus.
