At least four former ministers and state ministers of the ousted Awami League government were seen together at the wedding ceremony of Faiyaz Rahman, son of UK Awami League General Secretary Syed Sajidur Rahman Faruk.
The event was held on Sunday at the Intercontinental Hotel in London’s O2 area.
Prominent attendees included Awami League Joint General Secretary and former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud; Presidium Member and former Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman; former State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury; and Sylhet District Awami League President and former State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury.
Former Sylhet-3 MP Habibur Rahman Habib was also present.
This marks the first public appearance of these four former ministers together since the Awami League government was deposed in the mass uprising of August 5 last year.
Previously, Abdur Rahman and Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury appeared at a virtual rally hosted by Sheikh Hasina in London on December 8.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was seen at a party gathering in London on February 2.
Hasan Mahmud made a public appearance during Eid prayers in London on March 30. It was widely speculated that he had been residing in Belgium, but he reportedly came to London to celebrate Eid with his son, who is studying there.
The appearance of the former ministers sparked visible frustration among grassroots UK Awami League activists. They said that it was disgraceful to see them enjoying high-profile events abroad after abandoning millions of party leaders and supporters to face the fallout back home.
Criticism also poured in from Awami League sympathisers in Bangladesh, particularly on social media, where many accused the former ministers of living in luxury while their followers endured persecution and hardship.
It is widely believed that most ministers and MPs from the previous regime fled the country following the July-August uprising. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself fled to India.