The government has no information or evidence regarding a phone conversation between former president Mohammed Shahabuddin and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday.
However, he avoided commenting on the opposition’s demand to arrest the former president.
The home minister was speaking at the Secretariat around 12pm during a programme organised to award nine police officers for their good work.
“There are no allegations against the former president (Shahabuddin). For the next six months he will receive security from the Special Security Force (SSF), the President Guard Regiment (PGR), and the police. All necessary measures have been taken for his protection,” Salahuddin said.
He also said, “There are no new allegations against Shahabuddin. If there were any cases or charges against him before he became president, those will remain in effect according to the rules.”
Shahabuddin extended full cooperation to the current government and during the tenure of the interim government, he added.
On another issue, he clarified that the discovery of an IED bomb under the metro rail in Motijheel had no connection with the Rath Jatra festival, and said investigations were underway to identify those involved.
He further said the government had no knowledge of reports claiming a former US intelligence officer was secretly staying at a hotel in Bangladesh.
Additionally, Salahuddin confirmed that efforts are ongoing to bring back former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates and is in the custody of Dubai police.
