In the 11th and 12th national parliaments, eight Members of Parliament from the Sylhet division served as ministers in the Awami League-led government. Since the downfall of the government on August 5, many influential ministers, along with party leaders and activists have gone into hiding. So far, three of these ministers have been arrested, but party leaders and activists have no clear information on the whereabouts of the remaining five. Most of the ministers in hiding have cut off communication with party workers, relatives, and close associates. Sources suggest that some of the five ministers have secretly left the country, while others are still hiding domestically.
The ministers who served in the cabinet over the last two terms included former Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, former Expatriate Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed, former State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, former Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, former Planning Minister M.A. Mannan, former Environment and Climate Minister Shahab Uddin, former Agriculture Minister Vice-principal Abdus Shahid, and former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Advocate Mahbub Ali. All have faced multiple legal cases. Among them, Imran Ahmed, M.A. Mannan, and Advocate Mahbub Ali have been arrested by law enforcement agency. While Imran remains in jail, Mannan and Mahbub have been released on bail.
Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen was in the U.S. during the anti-discrimination student protests in July and returned to Bangladesh on August 28. Following the government’s fall on August 5, rumors surfaced that Dr. Momen had taken refuge in Dhaka’s cantonment area, though this remains unconfirmed. Neither party members nor close acquaintances in Sylhet have information on whether he is in Bangladesh or has returned to the U.S.
Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, former State Minister for Expatriate Welfare, was in his electoral area just days before the fall of the government. He attended various political and social programs in Bishwanath and Osmaninagar under Sylhet-2 constituency. Sources indicate that he traveled to Dhaka on August 2 and went into hiding there after August 5. After about a month, he reportedly crossed into India via the Sylhet border, then traveled to the U.K. via Shillong and Delhi.
Former Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has been in hiding since the government’s fall. He faces multiple cases, including for murder, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating his assets. Close associates in Sylhet have no information on his whereabouts, though most believe he is still in the country.
Former Expatriate Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed is facing several cases related to murder and money laundering. Police arrested him on October 20 from Banani. He is also accused of embezzling Tk 24,000 crore in manpower export schemes, and a case was filed against him at Paltan police station.
Cases were filed against former Planning Minister M.A. Mannan for his involvement in attacks on students and civilians during the anti-discrimination protests. Police arrested him on September 19 from his home in Shantiganj, Sunamganj. After 20 days in jail, he was granted bail on October 9. While in custody, Mannan became ill and was transferred from Sunamganj to Sylhet Jail, and later to Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Advocate Mahbub Ali was arrested from Segunbagicha in Dhaka on September 15 and released on bail on October 22.
Since August 5, former Agriculture Minister Abdus Shahid and former Environment Minister Shahab Uddin have been missing. Sources indicate that both ministers were in their electoral areas immediately after the government’s fall but left shortly thereafter. Currently, there is no information available from law enforcement or party leaders on their whereabouts.
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