[🇧🇩] Should the president be removed for lying about Hasina's resignation

[Saif]

Protesters in Dhaka, Barishal demand president’s resignation

Several groups of protesters today staged demonstrations in Dhaka and Barishal, demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin over his comment regarding the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5

www.thedailystar.net

Protesters in Dhaka, Barishal demand president’s resignation

The photo was taken from Barishal city today ( October 22, 2024). Photo: Titu Das

Several groups of protesters today staged demonstrations in Dhaka and Barishal, demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin over his comment regarding the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5.

Some of the protesters said they would continue their protest until the president stepped down.

A group of around 15 persons gathered near Bangabhaban around midday and chanted slogans demanding the president's resignation.

Photo: Palash Khan/Star

Saied Ahmed Sarker, one of the protesters said they started holding a sit-in-programme to press home their demands, including the resignation of the president and, the ban of Awami League and Chhatra League.

Meanwhile, under the banner of "Anti-discrimination Doctors and Students Council", protesters formed a human chain in front of the Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon with the same demands.

Photo: Palash Khan/Star

The protesters at the programme said the president made self-contradictory comments over the resignation of Sheikh Hasina in separate instances so he lost the moral ground to remain as the president.

In Barishal, the students of various schools, colleges and Barisal University protested over the same issue, reports our correspondent.

As per media reports, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has said he heard Sheikh Hasina had resigned as the prime minister on August 5, but he does not have any documentary evidence.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time," the president said when Manab Zamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury met him and wanted to know about Hasina's resignation letter.

He clarified later in the interview that there is no scope to start a debate over this.

"It is true that the [former] prime minister has left. Still, to ensure that no questions can arise, I took the opinion of the Supreme Court," he said.

The write-up that carries the conversation was published in the daily's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" Sunday.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 amid a mass student protest that started in early July. The president during his address to the nation on August 5 said he received Shiekh Hasina's resignation letter.

In Rangpur city, students from various educational institutions staged a protest rally last night on the same grounds.

Around 10:45pm, the protesters under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered in front of the main gate of Begum Rokeya University and started demonstrating, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

Later, they also marched through Park-er Mor, Chawkbazar, Sardarpara, and Shaheed Abu Sayed Square before ending in front of the university's main gate. Then, a protest rally was held there.​

 

[Saif]

Interim govt shares Asif Nazrul's view that president 'lied' about Hasina's resignation

Says chief adviser's deputy press secy; currently no move to remove Shahabuddin

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Interim govt shares Asif Nazrul's view that president 'lied' about Hasina's resignation
Says chief adviser's deputy press secy; currently no move to remove Shahabuddin

The interim government shares Law Adviser Asif Nazrul's opinion that President Mohammed Shahabuddin "lied" regarding former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation letter, and that it was akin to misconduct.

The chief adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir said this while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy this evening, but also said that "currently there is no move to remove the president from his position".

Shahabuddin made some remarks about immediate past prime minister Hasina's resignation in an interview with Manab Zamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, that was published in the daily's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" on Sunday.

The article quoted the president as saying that he heard that Hasina had resigned, but did not have any documentary evidence.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time."

In response to the president's claims, the law adviser yesterday termed the president's remarks a lie.

He said the president's comments in this regard was akin to misconduct and if he stuck to his guns, the government should reconsider his position.

Talking to reporters, the law adviser said, "If you contradict something you have said in front of the whole nation, then that is akin to misconduct. Then the question arises if you have the mental capacity to serve as the president. These questions may arise … you have created scope for that."

Nazrul was referring to the president's address to the nation on August 5, hours after Hasina fled the country in the face of a mass uprising.

"The [interim] government agrees with what Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said," Apurba Jahangir said in today's press conference.​

 

[Saif]

Chief justice holds meeting with Asif Nazrul, Nahid

Meeting held at a time when debate and speculations are swirling over president's recent remarks on Hasina's resignation

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Chief justice holds meeting with Asif Nazrul, Nahid

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul (left) and Information Adviser Nahid Islam. File photo

Two advisers of the interim government held a closed-door meeting with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed at the latter's Supreme Court office this afternoon.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Information Adviser Nahid Islam held a half-hour meeting with the chief justice around 2:00pm, SC sources said.

Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan, SC registrar general, confirmed the development to The Daily Star.

He however did not know what was discussed in the meeting.

The meeting was held at a time when debate and speculations are swirling over President Mohammed Shahabuddin's recent remarks on former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

He made the remarks in a recent interview with Manab Zamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, which was published in the daily's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" on Sunday.

The article quoted the president as saying that he heard that Hasina had resigned, but did not have any documentary evidence.

In response to the president's claims, the law adviser yesterday termed the president's remarks a lie.

He said the president's comments in this regard was akin to misconduct and if he stuck to his guns, the government should reconsider his position.

After the chief justice's meeting with the advisers, the inspector general of police, director general of Rapid Action Battalion and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police made a courtesy call on the chief justice at his SC office around 3:30pm. The meeting was prescheduled, SC sources said.​

 

[Saif]

Abolish constitution, remove president: Anti-Discrimination Student Movement issues ultimatum

Will return to streets in full force if demands not met by end of week, says coordinator

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Abolish constitution, remove president: Anti-Discrimination Student Movement issues ultimatum
Will return to streets in full force if demands not met by end of week, says coordinator

Hasnat Abdullah

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement today issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the fulfilment of five key demands, including the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the abolition of the 1972 constitution by the end of this week.

At a gathering held at the capital's Central Shaheed Minar, Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the platform, outlined the demands, calling for the banning of the Chhatra League and declaring a "Proclamation of the Republic" to rebuild a post-2024 Bangladesh in consultation with democratic and functioning political parties.

He said the authority must abolish the 1972 constitution immediately, stating that a new one must be drafted to reflect the spirit of the 2024 people's uprising.

Additionally, Hasnat said the three national elections -- held in 2014, 2018, and 2024 -- must be declared illegal.

He also demanded the confiscation of assets of those who served as MPs during this period and asked for legal measures to bar them from participating in future elections in the reformed Bangladesh.

He said the Chhatra League should be identified as a "terrorist organisation" and permanently banned. "If the government fails to meet the demands by this week, we will return to the streets with full force," Hasnat warned.

He said the revolution would only be complete when all democratic political parties -- whether BNP, Jamaat, right-wing, left-wing, or otherwise -- are allowed to function freely to safeguard the future of Bangladesh.

Attending the gathering, Nasir Uddin Patwary, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, "We don't want any part of the fascist government to remain in the country. The president was part of the group that opened fire on students and the general public. We too demand his resignation."​

 

[Saif]

A controversy we didn’t need

The recent statement by President Mohammed Shahabuddin regarding the resignation letter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has sparked a controversy that should not have occurred at all. On October 19, during a conversation with the editor-in-chief of daily Manab Zamin, the president said...

www.thedailystar.net

A controversy we didn’t need
President’s contradictory remarks raised questions

Visual: Star

The recent statement by President Mohammed Shahabuddin regarding the resignation letter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has sparked a controversy that should not have occurred at all. On October 19, during a conversation with the editor-in-chief of daily Manab Zamin, the president said that he had heard about Hasina's resignation but had no documentary evidence. This directly contradicts his address to the nation on August 5, where he said the former prime minister had submitted her resignation to him, and he had accepted it.

Did the president not grasp the gravity of the confusion he created through his contradictory statement? Did he not consider that his statement would raise concerns that are far more consequential? As far as we see it, the issue of the former prime minister's resignation is a settled matter. Thus, the president's decision to make the statement that touched off such a controversy was unwise. And it also raises questions about whether the president has taken his role seriously enough.

Following widespread criticism, the Bangabhaban issued a statement saying that the former PM's resignation was a settled matter, and that no one should stir a debate out of it. The point is, it is the president himself who created the controversy. He should have been far more circumspect about his remarks, instead of being so casual about it, particularly given the weight and responsibility of his office.

On the other hand, the law adviser reacted to the president's statement and went public, saying to the press that the president committed serious misconduct. He questioned his mental capacity, and literally accused him of indulging in falsehood. He also stated that he would go to the cabinet to discuss the president's actions. We believe, however, that there should have been a formal statement from the Chief Adviser's Office instead of advisers going public about it individually. This would have helped avert confusion and chaos, which the country can ill-afford right now. Therefore, when it comes to such important matters, the government should speak collectively -- which it did later on -- rather than have advisers speak individually.​

 

[Saif]

No move to remove president: govt

The interim government has taken no initiative to remove the president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, for his recent remarks that he has no documentary evidence of the resignation of the ousted...

www.newagebd.net

No move to remove president: govt
Staff Correspondent 23 October, 2024, 00:51

President Mohammed Shahabuddin. | File photo

The interim government has taken no initiative to remove the president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, for his recent remarks that he has no documentary evidence of the resignation of the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

‘There is no initiative of the government to remove the president. So, there was no discussion in the government about the legal way of his (president) removal,’ chief advisor’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

The media briefing was organised following a meeting of the advisory council at the state guest house Jamuna, the residence of chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.

Replying to a question, the chief adviser’s other DPS, Apurba Jahangir, said that Monday’s remark of law adviser Asif Nazrul on president’s remarks was the government’s statement in this regard.

Asif Nazrul on Monday said that President Mohammed Shahabuddin had made a self-contradictory statement while saying that he did not have the resignation letter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

‘The president himself in his address to the nation in the presence of the chiefs of the three forces at 11:20pm on August 5 had said “The former prime minister has tendered his resignation letter to him and he accepted it”. So, by saying that he doesn’t have the resignation letter of the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the president has made a self-contradictory statement,’ the law adviser said on Monday.

However, in a special interview with Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury on October 19, President Shahabuddin said that he did not have ‘any documentary evidence’ of the former prime minister’s resignation.

Later on Monday, Shahabuddin urged all to refrain from destabilising or embarrassing the interim government centring on ‘media publicity’ by quoting him regarding the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, said a release from the president’s press wing.

‘The clear statement from the president is that all the questions that have arisen in the public mind regarding the resignation and departure from the country of the prime minister in the face of the student-people uprising, the dissolution of the parliament, and the constitutional validity of the incumbent interim government are answered in the order of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Special Reference No-01/2024, dated August 8, 2024,’ said the release.​

 

[Saif]

President seems on brink as student change-makers demand his exit

Two students were injured as security forces fired gunshots at protesters trying to break through the barricades on Tuesday night in front of President Mohammed Shahabuddin's official residence Bangabhaban, demanding his resignation. Another person was injured as police blasted sound grenades to

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Fallout from double talk about Hasina resignation
President seems on brink as student change-makers demand his exit
Three injured as security forces fire gunshots, sound grenades
FE REPORT
Published :
Oct 23, 2024 02:03
Updated :
Oct 23, 2024 02:03

Demonstrators try to break through barricades near Bangabhaban in the city on Tuesday night during their protest, demanding resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. — FE photo

Two students were injured as security forces fired gunshots at protesters trying to break through the barricades on Tuesday night in front of President Mohammed Shahabuddin's official residence Bangabhaban, demanding his resignation.

Another person was injured as police blasted sound grenades to disperse them. The police action irked the protesting students and later army men brought the situation under control and restored the barricade.

Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), confirmed the casualty report.

The two persons injured in gunshots were identified as Faisal Ahmed Bishal, 24, and Shafiqul Islam, 45. The other injured person was identified as Arif, 20.

They were undergoing treatment at the DMCH, Faruk said.

The protesters attempted to break through the security barricade in front of Bangabhaban in Dhaka around 8:30 pm. Then members of the army and police intervened to stop them.

Demand for President Mohammed Shahabuddin's resignation got stronger following his reported double talk about the 'resignation letter' of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as student change-makers ringed his palace.

Several groups of protesters Tuesday staged demonstrations in Dhaka and some other parts of the country to demand his resignation forthwith.

The leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced a five-point ultimatum, including resignation of the incumbent President. They also announced that if these demands were not met by Thursday, they will occupy the streets again.

Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah announced these demands during a mass rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, calling for "the resignation of President Shahabuddin and the banning of the student organization Chhatra League as a terrorist group".

Students and members of the public gathered from various parts of the capital for the mass rally. The Dhaka Metropolitan branch of the National Citizens' Committee joined the rally with the same demands. The rally over, the event concluded in front of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University with a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar.

The five-point demands are (1) abolition of the current constitution which is based on '72 constitution and rewrite of a new one in the context of the 2024 uprising (2) permanently banning Chhatra League as a terrorist outfit within this week (3) resignation of President Shahabuddin within this week (4) "Proclamation of the Republic" within this week on the spirit of the July Revolution and Bangladesh has to be operated based on that proclamation on consensus of all the active pro-democratic political parties (5) the elections held in 2014, 2018 and 2024 (10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections) must be declared illegal.

They said the wealth of those elected in these elections must be confiscated, and legal measures must be taken to ensure that they can never participate in any future elections in Bangladesh.

Hasnat further said all fascist organizations, including Chhatra League, Juba League, and Awami League, as well as cultural organizations and media influenced by 'Mujibism', must be permanently eradicated from Bangladesh.

He referred to a decision made after Chhatra League and Juba League's attacks on students on July 17, asserting that there would be no room in Bangladesh for "terrorist organizations and their leader, Sheikh Hasina".

Addressing online-active Chhatra League members, Hasnat said, "What fear will you instill in us? We fought against the police and removed you from the land of Bengal. Your 'Mother of Terror,' Sheikh Hasina, has fled the country. She will be dragged back to Bangladesh for trial."

Nasir Uddin Patwari, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said if the 1972 BAKSAL constitution is not annulled and a new constitution not implemented in consultation with political parties within this month, the Nagorik committee will build an unstoppable movement along with its stakeholders. He also demanded that those involved in enforced disappearances and murders under the Awami League rule be brought to justice.

Coordinator Sarjis Alam said, "On August 5, Shahabuddin said Sheikh Hasina's resignation letter had been submitted. But now, in what state of mind he is saying he did not have the letter? Just as Sheikh Hasina fled, Shahabuddin will also have to flee. If any fascist dares to emerge from hiding, the united student body will resist them."

Coordinator Abu Bakar Majumdar said, "Mujibism is the root ideology of fascism. Chhatra League was the vanguard in establishing fascism. Even during Sheikh Hasina's time, they continued these terrorist activities. Over the past 15 years, they had created an unstable situation in Bangladesh, causing the disappearance of thousands of people. This fascism began with Chhatra League, so they must be banned."

He added, "We pledged to abolish fascism and create a new political order, but the fascist Shahabuddin, appointed under this system, is still in power."

Coordinator Arif Sohel said the 1972 constitution was not made with public opinion. "Shahabuddin is holding on to power by protecting this 1972 constitution. He must resign."

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, hundreds of people under different banners held protest rally in front of Bangabhaban (President house) to press for his resignation. The protesters there at 5.00 pm closed the roads adjacent to the Bangabhaban and chanted slogans against him.

A student group under the banner 'Inqilab Monch', persons injured in the July-August mass uprising under the banner of 'Roktim July-24', a section of people under the banner '36 July Parishad' and other people under the banner of 'Ziaur Rahman Social Welfare Parishad' and 'Anti-Fascist Student-People Forum' staged demonstrations blockading the Bangabhaban.

The protesters said President Mohammed Shahabuddin violated his oath and now he lost the eligibility to hold the post of President. They gave an ultimatum for his resignation within 24 hours.

One of the protesters said they started holding a sit-in to press home their demands, including the resignation of the president and, the ban of Awami League and Chhatra League.

In Barishal, students of various schools, colleges and Barisal University staged protests over the same issue, according to media reports.

In Rangpur city, students from various educational institutions staged a protest rally on Monday night on the same grounds.

Around 10:45 pm, the protesters under the banner of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered in front of the main gate of Begum Rokeya University and started demonstrating.

In an interview published in a Bengali newspaper President Mohammed Shahabuddin said, "I heard that she (Sheikh Hasina) resigned. But I don't have any documentary evidence."

At one point of the interview, the President said, "There is no more debate about this. It is true that the Prime Minister has left. Still, I have taken the opinion of the Supreme Court so that this question never arises."

However, the President, in his speech addressed to the nation on August 5 after Sheikh Hasina's fleeing, acknowledged that she resigned from the post of Prime Minister and he received the resignation letter.

The President also mentioned the matter in a letter sent to the Supreme Court asking its opinion over the legality of giving the oath to the interim government.​

 

[Saif]

The plot thickens over calls for the president to quit

The BNP and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement seem to be at odds over the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

www.thedailystar.net

The plot thickens over calls for the president to quit

President Mohammed Shahabuddin

The BNP and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement seem to be at odds over the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The interim government, meantime, has yet to clarify its stance on the issue.

After a meeting between a BNP delegation and Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus around noon yesterday, the party said vacancy in the president's post at this moment would put "the state in a crisis and create a constitutional vacuum", which the nation does not desire.

Briefing reporters outside the state guesthouse Jamuna, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, said his party had urged the government to make sure there was no constitutional vacuum or crisis.

"If the lackeys of the fallen autocrat try to create any constitutional and political crisis, the pro-democracy political parties and different organisations will face it together," Nazrul said, urging everyone to be cautious so that a new constitutional or political crisis is not created.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and special assistant to the chief adviser Mahfuj Alam were present at the meeting.

Queried by journalists about the BNP's opinion regarding the demand for the president's resignation, Asif Nazrul said, "Nothing specific. We have said everyone should be careful so that no new constitutional or political crisis is created. If anyone wants to do that, we will face it together."

Nazrul Islam Khan, along with BNP standing committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud and Salahuddin Ahmed, represented the BNP at the meeting.

Later, at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan, Salahuddin told reporters, "The presidency is the highest constitutional position, and it is also an institution. If this position becomes vacant due to resignation or removal, it will create a constitutional and national crisis."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee at a press briefing yesterday evening called for national unity for scrapping of the 1972 constitution and removal of the president.

Protesters gather outside the Bangabhaban yesterday afternoon to stage a demo demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Photo: Palash Khan

At the presser, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the four-member committee of the movement, urged all parties, except the Awami League, pro-AL student body Chhatra League, and the Jatiya Party, to respond to the call for national unity.

He said, "If any party does not join us in the call for the repeal of the 1972 constitution and the president's resignation, we will boycott them. We will not accept the 1972 constitution, as its existence prolongs the political crisis.

"This constitution has always established and reinforced a fascist structure. Sheikh Hasina has always said that 'we must maintain constitutional continuity'. Whenever she was asked to resign or hold discussions about a caretaker or neutral government, she would readily refer to the need to uphold this constitution," he said.

"Our demand is for President Shahabuddin to resign. However, we do not want this type of movement to escalate. We have already communicated with the protesters near the Bangabhaban. I urge those involved to trust the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We will lead collectively and face all conspiracies through our activism."

Nasir Uddin Patwari, a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, "We are engaging with the political elite but do not seek roundtable discussions. We believe in addressing issues on the streets. Sheikh Hasina has evaded accountability on the streets, and it is there that decisions will be made."

Meanwhile, Information Adviser Nahid Islam stressed the need for political consensus and national unity, rather than following legal or constitutional procedures for any decision regarding the president.

"The interim government is consulting with all stakeholders, and a decision may be forthcoming … ," he told reporters at the Secretariat.

"Whether the president will remain in office is currently not a legal or constitutional question. It is a political decision. To make the decision [on the president], we are prioritising stability, security, and discipline in the state," Nahid said.

The adviser called upon the protesters not to stage demonstrations as the government has received their message.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the government has not made any decision regarding the removal of the president from office.

"We will inform you of any development regarding the matter," he told reporters after the meeting with the BNP.

The debate regarding the removal of the president started after daily Manab Zamin's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" on Sunday published an article containing the president's remarks that he heard Sheikh Hasina had resigned as the prime minister, but he did not have any documentary evidence.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not have the time," he was quoted as saying.

The next day, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the president lied, and it was akin to misconduct. He questioned the president's mental capacity to serve.

Later, student bodies, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demanded the removal of the president.

On Tuesday, several hundred protesters under the banners Raktim July 2024 and Shadhinota-Sharbobhoumotto Rokkha Committee attempted to break through the security barriers in front of the Bangabhaban.

A robust four-layer security measure has been established at the Bangabhaban. But demonstrators have made sporadic attempts to gather near the president's official residence.​