Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Home Ministry, has said that former President Abdul Hamid was not arrested because there is no arrest warrant against him.

Speaking to reporters on Monday (June 9) after inspecting Jatrabari police station in Dhaka, he said, “Since there is no warrant against Abdul Hamid, he was not arrested. However, if the allegations against him are proven, legal action will be taken.”

He added, “The government wants to ensure that no innocent person is punished. Therefore, every case is being thoroughly investigated. The investigation into the actions taken against the Superintendent of Police and the investigating officer in Kishoreganj related to the former president’s foreign trip is also ongoing.”

Earlier, Abdul Hamid returned to Dhaka on Sunday (June 8) at 1:30 a.m. on Thai Airways flight TG-339. After landing, he was taken to the immigration counter in a wheelchair at 1:45 a.m. and was seen waiting there for a long time. His immigration process was completed around 2:45 a.m., after which he left the airport. At that time, he was wearing a shirt and lungi and appeared fatigued.

Abdul Hamid had left the country earlier in early May for medical treatment in Thailand. Since there was no restriction on his travel, he left the country legally. His younger son Riyad Ahmed Tushar and brother-in-law Dr. A. N. M. Naushad Khan accompanied him. It is known that he went abroad on the advice of doctors in Bangladesh.

The revelation of his trip sparked controversy, and a high-powered police committee was formed at police headquarters to identify those who helped him leave the country. This committee has begun its work.

Abdul Hamid first took oath as the 20th president of Bangladesh on April 24, 2013, and was sworn in for a second term as the 21st president on April 24, 2018. After completing his term, Md. Shahabuddin was sworn in as president on April 24, 2023. After leaving Bangabhaban, Abdul Hamid settled in his home in Nikunja, Dhaka.

On January 14 this year, a case was filed at Kishoreganj Sadar Model Police Station accusing Abdul Hamid, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 124 others in connection with an attack and firing during a student movement.

Following Abdul Hamid’s departure abroad, strong reactions came from various political parties. Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs took action against several police officers.