From kidnapping victim to Home Minister: A new chapter in Salahuddin Ahmed’s political journey

Feb 18, 2026
Politics

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed speaking to journalists after taking oath as Member of Parliament (Collected)

PNN News Desk, Dhaka:

BNP’s senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed, who had previously been a victim of enforced disappearance during the Awami League government, has now been assigned the Ministry of Home Affairs. Following a decisive victory in the Thirteenth National Parliamentary elections, he has been appointed Home Minister in the new BNP-led government.

After winning two-thirds of the seats, the new government took the oath on Tuesday. Chairman Tarique Rahman administered the oath to the cabinet members, assigning important ministries, including the sensitive Ministry of Home Affairs, to Salahuddin Ahmed.

Salahuddin Ahmed (63), a permanent member of BNP’s Standing Committee, was elected for the fourth time from Cox’s Bazar-1. His parliamentary career began in 1996 in the Sixth National Parliament elections. He also won the subsequent elections that year and in 2001. Although he did not contest in 2008, his wife, Hasina Ahmed, was elected as MP from the same seat.

A dramatic episode in his political life occurred on 10 March 2015 when he was allegedly abducted from a residence in Uttara, Dhaka. BNP claimed that law enforcement officers took him. Almost two months later, he was found in Shillong, India, reportedly wandering in a disoriented state and was taken into custody. He faced charges for illegal entry in India but was acquitted by lower courts in 2018 and finally cleared on appeal in February 2023. He returned to Bangladesh on 11 August 2024 following the fall of the Awami League government during the student-public movement of 5 August.

Born on 30 June 1962 in Pekua Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, Salahuddin Ahmed studied at Chittagong College and later earned his law degrees (Bachelor and Master) from Dhaka University. He joined the administration cadre in 1988 and served as assistant private secretary to then-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in 1991. He later entered active politics and served as State Minister for Communications in 2001.

According to his latest electoral affidavit, his occupation includes law and business. His declared movable assets exceed 10 crore BDT, and immovable assets are nearly 8 crore BDT. Cash and bank deposits are also significant, and his annual income is reported at over 6 crore BDT. In the past, he was accused in 38 cases, with five cases currently pending.

His transition from a kidnapping victim to the country’s Home Minister has sparked new discussions in national politics.