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

[Saif]

Decision on president through political consensus: Rizwana

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said decision will be taken on the basis of political consensus whether the president will remain or not

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Decision on president through political consensus: Rizwana

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said decision will be taken on the basis of political consensus whether the president will remain or not.

"No decision has been taken on the president. Efforts are being made to build consensus among the political parties and then the decision will be taken after considering everything," she said.

Rizwana said these at a programme on the enforcement of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act-2010 at the meeting room of the Ministry of Textiles at the Secretariat on Sunday.

Responding to a question, she said BNP believes the removal of the current president could create a crisis though some believe it would not. "The government's stance is to build a political consensus on this issue."

Rizwana also said there were no issue with taking the oath to this president, as the situation at the time required it, and there was no opportunity for alternative discussions.

Replying to another question, she said no discussion was held in the recent advisory council meeting over the banning of any political party.​

 

[Saif]

President has to go only after political consensus

More political parties have agreed in principle with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s demand for the president’s removal but emphasised that any action has to be based on political consensus.

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President has to go only after political consensus
Say 12-Party Alliance, Gono Odhikar Parishad

More political parties have agreed in principle with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement's demand for the president's removal but emphasised that any action has to be based on political consensus.

The development came after Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee yesterday held two separate meetings with Gono Odhikar Parishad and the 12-Party Alliance.

The issues of annulling the last three national elections, removing President Mohammed Shahabuddin and rewriting the constitution were discussed at the meetings, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the movement, told reporters after the meetings.

While Gono Odhikar Parishad and the 12-Party Alliance agreed on the issues, they stressed on reaching a political consensus regarding the president's removal so that the culture of imposing a decision exploiting constitutional frameworks by the Awami League is not repeated, he said.

The party leaders called for determining the process of removing the president through a political consensus and discussion among parties, Shakil Uzzaman, office secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, told The Daily Star.

Earlier in the day, the 12-Party Alliance, formed with members of the now defunct BNP-led 20-Party alliance, gave a similar statement after the meeting with the movement leaders.

"Our aim is for the entire nation to come together and reach a final decision. The interim government must not fail in any way as such a failure would have dire consequences for the entire country," Mostafa Jamal Haider, head of the 12-party alliance and chairman of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), told reporters emerging from the meeting.

He went on to call for speeding up the reforms so that elections could be held at the earliest.

He also called for unity among all parties, including the BNP.

BNP leaders on occasions have said that removing the president would create a crisis the nation does not desire.

The alliance leaders also enquired about the process of removing the president so that no constitutional crisis is created as a consequence.

Following the meeting, Nasiruddin Patwary, convenor of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, called on the BNP to "understand the pulse of the people" and cooperate in removing "the cobra sitting in the president's house".

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday emphasised the importance of adhering to constitutional processes and avoiding hasty decisions regarding the removal of the president.

"We will not make any hasty declarations. We have a forum for discussion, and we will convene a standing committee meeting to clarify our stance following our discussions," he told reporters after laying wreaths at the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.​

 

[Saif]

Stalemate continues over president’s removal

The impasse over the issue of president Muhammed Shahabuddin’s removal continued as of Sunday evening with some political parties taking time to reach consensus, although they morally agreed on the issue, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party voiced caution against any ‘imprudent’ steps in this...

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Stalemate continues over president’s removal
Ahammad Foyez and Moloy Saha 27 October, 2024, 23:58

Muhammed Shahabuddin | File photo

The impasse over the issue of president Muhammed Shahabuddin’s removal continued as of Sunday evening with some political parties taking time to reach consensus, although they morally agreed on the issue, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party voiced caution against any ‘imprudent’ steps in this regard.

The Student Movement Against Discrimination, which led the July-August student-mass uprising ousting then prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, and National Citizens’ Committee, a platform floated after Hasina’s fall, on Sunday held separate meetings with the 12-party alliance and Gono Odhikar Parishad.

Earlier on Saturday, they held a meeting with the BNP that said it would take time to discuss the issue in its internal forum.

On Sunday, while speaking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, marking the 46th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the interim government should operate within the constitutional framework avoiding any imprudent steps.

‘The only way to overcome every crisis is to hold a credible national election after completing all the necessary reforms related to the electoral process,’ he said.

Juba Dal leaders and activists accompanied Fakhrul at the event.

Asked about the party’s position on the removal of president Mohammed Shahabuddin following the meeting with students, he said, ‘We can’t provide BNP’s position like this... We have a party forum, and we will clarify our stance after discussing it at that forum.’

Fakhrul emphasised that at the moment forging a national unity was essential to consolidate the revolution and harvest its results.

‘We believe that all actions should be conducted within a constitutional framework without resorting to any arbitrary measures,’ he said, adding that their party had consistently urged the government to arrange an impartial election swiftly by implementing necessary electoral reforms.

When asked whether the party believed that delays in the election would deepen the crisis, Fakhrul responded that the government must take immediate steps to organise the national election to address the crisis.

‘A constitutional political force should take charge of the country and govern through a neutral election. This alone can resolve all crises,’ he said.

Besides, addressing a separate programme at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on the day, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that attempts were on to brew a constitutional crisis.

‘If there is a constitutional crisis, if there is a political crisis, we have to analyse the power behind that crisis,’ he said.

‘After the revolution [July-August mass uprising], we have to think about whether the fruits of the revolution are robbed. We have to remain vigilant so that a state crisis does not arise, a constitutional crisis does not arise, so that fallen fascism does not take advantage of that crisis,’ he added.

After the meeting with 12-party alliance in a press release the National Citizens’ Committee said that the alliance had agreed in principle with the demand of the president’s removal, but the process would be discussed further.

‘The issues of repealing the constitution and proclamation of the Second Republic were discussed. The National Citizens’ Committee and the Student Movement Against Discrimination will continue discussions with various political parties to create a national unity on these issues,’ it said.

About the meeting, Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh president Shahadat Hossain Selim, the spokesperson of the 12-party alliance, told New Age that they told the leaders of the students and youths that they reserved no soft corner for Shahabuddin, but they feared his removal would usher in some constitutional crisis leading to delays in the national polls.

He also said that without reaching an agreement with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party over the issue, removing Shahabuddin would not be wise.

Later, the platforms held a meeting with Nurul Hauq Nur-led Gono Odhikar Parishad at its office in Dhaka.

After the meeting, Gono Odhikar Parishad secretary Rashed Khan at a press conference said that his party morally agreed with the demand of president’s removal, but they also feared the removal would trigger some major crisis.

‘We are against the president, but we certainly do not want to see any crisis in this regard. We want to know the position of the government on this,’ he said, adding that the crisis would be solved with the formation of a national government.

He also said that his party wanted an open dialogue between the interim government and all political parties.

At a programme, meanwhile, at a meeting on enforcing the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 at the textiles ministry at the Secretariat on the day, environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that the decision on the president’s removal would be taken on the basis of political consensus.

‘No decision has been taken on the president. Efforts are being made to build consensus among the political parties and then the decision will be taken after considering everything,’ she said.

Responding to a question, she said that the BNP believed the removal would trigger a crisis, while some others believed it would not.

‘The government’s stance is to build a political consensus on this issue,’ she said, adding that there were no issues with taking oath administered by the incumbent president, as the situation demanded it, and there were no alternative opportunities.

After Saturday’s meeting with the BNP, Student Movement Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah told reporters that they earlier held meetings with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh in this regard.

He said that Jammat and Islami Andolon agreed that the president should be removed.

They are scheduled to hold a meeting with the Ganatantra Mancha today.

On October 23, the Student Movement Against Discrimination and the National Citizens’ Committee jointly called for national unity for the president’s removal and the cancellation of the constitution, while a small group on the day demonstrated in front of Bangabhaban, office-cum-residence of the president.

The demand for the president’s removal has come to the fore following a special interview of president Shahabuddin with Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury published on October 19 in which he said that he did not have ‘any documentary evidence’ of the former prime minister’s resignation.

Later on October 21, in a press release sent from the president’s press wing, 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.

‘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]

Seek SC’s opinion for removing president

Two political parties yesterday suggested seeking the Supreme Court’s opinion for removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin from office.

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Seek SC’s opinion for removing president
2 political parties tell movement leaders

High Court

Two political parties yesterday suggested seeking the Supreme Court's opinion for removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin from office.

In their discussions with the delegations from the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and Jatiya Nagorik Committee, leaders of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and Gono Odhikar Parishad (Kibria-Faruk faction) made the suggestion.

However, Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of six political parties, told the student leaders that it would not be wise to take any decision in this regard excluding any political party that was part of the mass uprising.

In the first meeting of the day, the AB Party leaders suggested sending a reference to the Supreme Court for advice on the removal of the president, as they believe that if the president is not removed or if he does not resign from office, it may cause a great national crisis.

They made the remark during the discussion held at the AB Party's central office in Bijoynagar in the capital.

"We see both the prime minister and the president as illegitimate. Just as the parliament is illegitimate, so is the president elected by that parliament. It was necessary for the interim government to be sworn in under this president due to the exceptional circumstances, when all political and student leaders were present," Mujibur Rahman, member secretary of AB party, told reporters after the discussion.

Asked whether a constitutional crisis would arise if the president resigned or was removed, he called it a valid question. "That is why, we clearly suggested that a reference be sent to the Supreme Court for guidance on the matter."

Mentioning how the Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus and the advisory council took their oaths based on the Supreme Court's opinion after sending a reference, he said, "A similar reference under Article 106 of the Constitution could be sought regarding the issue of the president's removal for a resolution. We believe this would avoid any constitutional crisis or vacuum."

Nagorik Committee representative Arif Sohel mentioned that they had a positive discussion with the AB Party, which supports the president's resignation.

Both parties present at the discussion agreed that a "proclamation of republic," could be issued to recognise the July mass uprising and challenge the legitimacy of the past three elections under the Awami League.

Meanwhile, the Kibria-Faruk faction led by Reza Kibria of the Gono Odhikar Parishad also made similar suggestions.

"Since the government is now operating as per the constitutional framework, we have to proceed as per the Article 106 of the Constitution. We have no other option right now," Faruk Hasan, member secretary of the party, told The Daily Star.

They also agreed with the demand seeking the president's removal and opined that it should be done immediately.

"We have discussed three issues -- removal of the president, scrapping of the 1972 constitution, and challenging the last three national elections under AL government. We have agreed on all the issues with the student leaders. However, regarding the president's removal, we told them to follow a systemic procedure so that no crisis is created centring the issue," said Faruk.

At the meeting between the partners of the Ganatantra Mancha and the student leaders, the alliance partners said that a decision should be reached based on a national consensus and consider the "extra-constitutional" situation that may arise following the removal.

"We told them that any decision in this regard should be reached based on a national consensus and not excluding any party that has been active in the movement against the Awami League. However, we think that the president has no right to be in the post and should resign immediately," Saiful Huq, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers' Party told this newspaper.

In regards to challenging the last three national elections, the alliance partners advised further discussions, saying such a decision may lead to technical issues.​

 

[Saif]

President lost credibility: AB Party

AB Party presented several key points and recommendations for national dialogue and consensus i

en.prothomalo.com

President lost credibility: AB Party
Prothom Alo English Desk
Published: 28 Oct 2024, 20: 07

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party held a meeting with the leaders of Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee today Courtesy

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party held a meeting with the leaders of Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Monday to address the ongoing controversy surrounding the office of the president and a potential constitutional ramification after his resignation.

The AB Party leaders raised concerns over recent statements by President Md Shahabuddin which have sparked public outrage and widespread calls for his resignation.

AB Party presented several key points and recommendations for national dialogue and consensus including immediate resignation of the president, a review from the Supreme Court to address the potential constitutional crisis after the president’s resignation, a consensus on whether the current government is a constitutional government or a revolutionary government, declaration of a national proclamation reflecting the historical student uprising to guide the government’s essential decisions, constitutional reforms and reformation of interim government to incorporate a broader coalition, thereby, increasing inclusivity and trust.

The AB Party concluded with a call for national unity, emphasising that past sacrifices must not go in vain and urging all political actors to work toward consensus on pressing constitutional and electoral issues.​

 

[Saif]

Student leaders to suggest formation of council with political parties

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and the National Citizens’ Committee are going suggest that the interim government should form a council with the representatives of all political parties to resolve...

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Student leaders to suggest formation of council with political parties
Moloy Saha 30 October, 2024, 00:03

President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The Student Movement Against Discrimination and the National Citizens’ Committee are going suggest that the interim government should form a council with the representatives of all political parties to resolve the issue of the president’s removal.

They came up with the suggestion at a press conference following a meeting with the Left Democratic Alliance at Mukti Bhaban in Dhaka on Tuesday.

After the meeting, National Citizens’ Committee convener Nasiruddin Patwary said that they would advise the government to form a council with all the political parties.

‘They [the council] will discuss and decide who will be the president based on consensus,’ he said.

The two platforms, which raised the demand for the president ’s removal Mohammed Shahabuddin’s remark that he had no documentary evidence of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister, already held talks with six parties and three alliances, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, to reach national consensus on their five-point demand, including the removal of the president.

After meeting with the Left Democratic Alliance, Nasiruddin said, ‘The decision we have reached in these few days of discussions is that this president must go. Political parties have not discussed the issue among themselves in that way or we have seen a lack of activism among themselves. After we took the initiative, that understanding came, awareness came and they realised that they needed to have consensus.’

‘We believe that we have been able to bring the reaction among them. They [political parties] said that they will find a solution through discussions in various levels, including the party forum, and it will be solved,’ he said.

After the meeting, Left Democratic Alliance coordinator Masud Rana said, ‘We said that the consensus of the political parties is the most important. Further activities have to be agreed upon through discussions with the political parties regarding the future action plan.’

The Left Democratic Alliance is a combine of six left political parties—Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) coordinator, and also coordinator of the combine, Masud Rana chaired the meeting, while Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Ruuhin Hossain Prince, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) joint general secretary Razequzzaman Ratan, Democratic Revolutionary Party general secretary Mushrefa Mishu, Revolutionary Communist League central leader Abdus Satter, among others, attended the meeting.​