Govt has no proof on Quader hiding in country or fleeing it: CA press secretary
"Those who were involved in the killings during the July uprising, those who have blood on their hands, will be brought to justice. There will be no exemptions," he also said
The interim government has no information on former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader's whereabouts since the Awami League government fell, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today (17 December).
The government has no proof that Quader, who is also the general secretary of Awami League, was hiding inside the country for three months and later left the country, Shafiqul said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka in the afternoon.
Regarding allegations that Quader and law enforcement members facing criminal cases fleeing the country, he said, "We are looking into these matters. We have learned many things. But the government does not have any evidence about whether Obaidul Quader was in Bangladesh or not."
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Also Read: How did Obaidul Quader flee country despite arrest warrant? ICT seeks explanation
The press secretary said there was no government in the country for three days after 5 August, when Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the face of a mass uprising. "There were no police in the country for a week. A lot has happened in this situation.
"The people of the country provided their own security. The students controlled the traffic on the roads. But I can say this much, this government is addressing everything that has come to its attention."
Shafiqul also said, "Those who were involved in the killings during the July uprising, those who have blood on their hands, will be brought to justice. There will be no exemptions. Those involved in the enforced disappearances, be they political parties or members of law enforcement agencies, will be prosecuted. You can be sure of this much."
Responding to a question on the Jatiya Nagorik Committee's recent demand about holding elections after ensuring the prosecution of Awami League and cohorts of fascism, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azam Majumder said, "If this proposal comes from the side of the political parties in the discussion of the National Consensus Building Commission or the court issues any directive, then the government will take a decision after taking everything into considering."
ICT seeks explanation about how Obaidul Quader fled the country
His comments come as the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today sought an explanation from the inspector general of police (IGP) and concerned officials of the law enforcement agencies under Bangladesh Police on how Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader managed to leave the country despite having an arrest warrant issued against him.
The IGP and the agencies have been given 15 days to provide the explanation, ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters at the tribunal premises in Dhaka.
He was speaking to journalists after the hearing of a case involving 45 individuals, including Quader, former Awami Leagues ministers, high-profile individuals, bureaucrats, and political leaders, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising.
Tajul said they drew the court's attention to the fact that Quader, who was also the former road transport and bridges minister, has been in Bangladesh for the past three months after the Awami League government was ousted.
After ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on 5 August in the face of the student-led mass uprising, many Awami League leaders and ministers and state ministers from her government also escaped abroad while some were arrested later.
However, there has been ongoing uncertainty regarding Quader's whereabouts. Initially, rumours circulated that he had been arrested, which later turned out to be false.
Recently, a national daily reported that Quader was in the country for three months after the Awami League government fell and then managed to flee abroad.
Meanwhile, regarding the ICT's directive, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said the interim government was unaware of Quader's whereabouts even if he was hiding in the country for three months.
"If we had known, we would have caught him," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's Office in Segunbagicha.
