Two police officials have been withdrawn and two others suspended for negligence in duty regarding former president Md Abdul Hamid's departure from the country.

Hamid left Dhaka for Bangkok early yesterday. He boarded a Thai Airways flight that departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) around 3:00am, confirmed an SB official.

The officials withdrawn are Hasan Chowdhury, special superintendent of Kishoreganj police, and Tahsin Arif, additional superintendent of police of the Special Branch's immigration wing.

Those suspended are Sub-Inspector Azharul Islam of Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station, also the investigating officer in the case against Hamid, and trainee Sub-Inspector Md Soleiman of the Special Branch.

The actions followed a warning from Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who said those who facilitated Hamid's departure would not be spared.

According to a notification issued by Police Headquarters, disciplinary action was taken after it was found that the officials had failed to perform their duties properly in this regard.

The PHQ said it has formed a three-member inquiry committee, led by the additional inspector general (admin), to investigate the matter.

"The former president went to Thailand for medical treatment. We allowed it as there is no court restriction or any embargo by any agency against him," an HSIA source told The Daily Star.

Hamid's family sources confirmed to The Daily Star that he had travelled to Thailand for medical treatment and was accompanied by his younger son, Barrister Riyad Ahmed Tushar, and his brother-in-law, ANM Naushad Khan, principal of President Abdul Hamid Medical College.

They said he went abroad following recommendations from local doctors, reports our Kishoreganj correspondent.

Police sources said Hamid arrived at the airport around 11:15pm on Wednesday and completed all necessary formalities before leaving the country.

A former Awami League lawmaker, he is accused in a case filed with Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station, alongside ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in connection with an attack on a procession during the July uprising.

AKM Akteruzzaman, special superintendent of Immigration (Operations) of the Special Branch, told The Daily Star, "We let him go as there was nothing mentioned about him in the system… He was not even listed [for travel restrictions]."

Asked whether the former president had indeed left the country for treatment, he replied, "We do not know much about it. He left with a boarding pass. We only check whether a passenger has a boarding pass and is cleared in the system."

About Hamid being accused in a case, Akteruzzaman said, "The agency handling the case did not inform us. There was no prior alert regarding him in our system."

Hours after Hamid left the country, controversy erupted on social media over how an accused in a July uprising-related case managed to leave.

Gono Odhikar Parishad and its youth wing, Jubo Odhikar Parishad, submitted a memorandum to the home ministry, demanding the resignation of adviser Jahangir and accusing him of facilitating Hamid's departure.

Meanwhile, the home adviser yesterday announced he would "leave [the position]" if he fails to take action against those who assisted the former president in leaving the country.

He made the remarks after being questioned by student activists of the July uprising while leaving the Dinajpur deputy commissioner's office, following a meeting with the district's law and order committee.

Jahangir said, "No one who aided former president Abdul Hamid in fleeing the country will be spared. Action will definitely be taken … Under no circumstances will they be let off the hook. Those involved will be held accountable."