Disgraced ex-state minister Murad leaves country

Disgraced former state minister for information and broadcasting Murad Hassan left the country for Canada, an official at the immigration of Dhaka airport said.

The official also said an Emirates flight carrying Murad and 399 other passengers took off for Canada from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 1:20am on Thursday night, reports news agency UNB.

They said Murad entered the VIP terminal of the airport around 9:15pm. No one accompanied Murad at the time of leaving the country.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Murad Hassan was forced to quit the cabinet following the instructions of prime minister Sheikh Hasina for his detestable and extremely abusive speech against women.

Murad Hassan was seen in a viral video making extremely indecent remarks about Zaima Rahman, granddaughter of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia. He drew huge condemnation from different sections of people for his disrespectful remarks in an interview on social media.

Amid this criticism, audio of a telephonic conversation of Murad Hassan with an actress also went viral on social media during the last few days. He was heard threatening the actress to pick up using different law enforcement agencies and taker her to a hotel. The phone conversation took place two years ago.

Still a ruling Awami League MP from Jamalpur-4 constituency, Murad Hassan, bought the ticket to fly to Canada on Wednesday, says airlines sources.

Murad Hassan submitted his red passport on the day of his resignation on Tuesday, said a source from the office of the former state minister.

Prothom Alo phoned Murad Hassan but he did not pick up the call.