Bangladesh’s former IT minister Zunaid Ahmed detained at Dhaka airport: Reports

Zunaid Ahmed, who was planning to leave the country and was waiting for his flight at the VIP lounge of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, was reportedly detained by Bangladesh’s Air Force officials.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who dissolved the country’s parliament after former PM Sheikh Hasina fled the country, announced the release of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia who has been under house arrest for several cases.

President Shahabuddin also said that the interim government will take over the administration and until then, the military holds the command.

Since Hasina fled the country, many Awami League supporters and party members, including former ministers, have been trying to escape Bangladesh and seek asylum in friendly countries.

Zunaid Ahmed was planning to fly to India where Sheikh Hasina reached yesterday, several reports said. Protesters even ransacked the palace of Sheikh Hasina who demanded the resignation of the former PM.

Protest leader Sarjis Alam in a statement said, “We have proposed the name of Muhammad Yunus (Nobel laureate) with his consent. Now if someone else comes from among the MPs, we will not allow that to happen,” reported Associated Press.

Bangladesh’s political turmoil has raised tension in the Asian region as violent protests has ousted the Awami League led administration from power.