Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated today (19 October) that while the government is looking into how individuals left the country following the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina administration, it also acknowledged the period from August 5 to August when there was no government in power.

“The government position is quite clear. We are investigating and looking into why and how they could flee,” he told reporters while responding to a question during a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam and CA’s Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were present.

After 15 years of leading Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina fled the country on 5 August as student-led protesters stormed her place of residence.

Alam said one thing is clear that there was no government on 5-8 August and police were on strike for a week and there was a gap at that time.

“Our best efforts were there to arrest them. We are still trying to arrest those who were involved in ‘mass killings’,” he said.

A journalist wanted to know how deposed Hasina was to flee in protocol when she stepped down.

In reply, Alam said, “Again, at that time our government was not there. The overall matter is being investigated.”

Responding to a question on expansion of the Council of Advisers, Deputy Press Secretary Azad said some political parties proposed to see whether it can further be expanded with more Advisers and also suggested evaluating the current advisers’ work.

He said the Chief Adviser listened to their proposals attentively and will convey his decision following due process.