Who helped Bangladesh ex-president Abdul Hamid bypass airport security check? Timeline of events explained

Former Bangladesh President Mohammed Abdul Hamid fled to Thailand via Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the wee hours of May 8. Now reports reveal the details of Hamid's mysterious escape from the Muhammad Yunus regime.

A CCTV footage from the airport shows Hamid arriving at the VIP terminal at 12.46 am, according to Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star. A security personnel recognised the former President and immediately got in touch with his line manager.

Meanwhile, two other personnel who were reportedly from a "specialised intelligence agency" let the car move forward to the drop-off spot at the terminal, according to sources quoted by the outlet.

As he exited the vehicle, Hamid was seen wearing a lungi and sandals while leaning on a cane as he got out around 12.51 am. He was then transferred to a wheelchair. Accompanying him was his lawyer son Riad Ahmed who was seen carrying two suitcases, according to the report.

Later, Riad Ahmed took to social media, saying his father was so frail that he could not stand for more than two minutes or sit for over two hours. Explaining why Hamid was wearing a lungi, he said his father lost a lot of weight and hence his pants no longer fit him.

Hamid then proceeded to the VIP lounge. By 2.21 am, the former president headed towards Gate No. 33 without undergoing security checks. The airport's executive director Group Captain S.M. Ragib Samad told the Daily Star that Gate No. 33 is exclusively meant for "secure airport personnel" while others have to go to the second floor for security checks.

It should be noted that only the sitting president is exempt from mandatory security checks. Even interim leader Yunus has to undergo this process before proceeding to the Gates.

From Gate No. 33, he was transported in a car to the Thai Airways flight TG340 and taken inside the plane along with his wheelchair.

Hamid, who was a former Awami League parliamentarian, is named a co-accused in a murder case wherein protesters were shot dead in July-August 2024. Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League was recently banned by the interim government under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

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