Former President Abdul Hamid has left the country, nine months after the fall of the Awami League government following a mass uprising.

He departed on a Thai Airways flight at 3:05 am on Thursday (May 7). Immigration authorities at the Hazrat Shahjalal Internation Airport confirmed the matter to Jago News at 10:15 am.

According to sources, Abdul Hamid is in very poor health. Citing a lack of security, he did not seek treatment at any hospital in the country. Instead, seeking advanced medical care abroad, he arrived at the airport around 11:00 pm last night, dressed as a regular passenger. At the time, he was wearing a face mask and a cap. After completing the necessary immigration checks, he was cleared for departure.

A senior official from the Immigration Department of the police’s Special Branch (SB) told Jago News, "We learnt about Abdul Hamid`s departure only after arriving at work this morning. He cited medical treatment as the reason for his foreign travel."

On January 14, a case was filed against Abdul Hamid at Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other leaders of the Awami League were also named as accused in the same case.

When asked why Abdul Hamid was allowed to leave the country despite this, the immigration official said, "We were aware of the case filed in Kishoreganj against him. However, there was no travel ban issued by the court or the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding his departure. Therefore, there was no legal bar to his foreign travel. Moreover, he is physically unwell."

Notably, Abdul Hamid was appointed Acting President of Bangladesh on 14 March 2013, while President Zillur Rahman was hospitalized in Singapore. Zillur Rahman died six days later. Abdul Hamid was then elected unopposed as president on 22 April 2013 and sworn into office on 24 April. On 7 February 2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term following the 11th parliamentary election.

He joined the Awami League at the end of 1969. Abdul Hamid was elected Speaker of the Ninth Parliament and held the position from 2009 to 2013.