 "Bangladesh: Did Hasina really resign? Interim govt adviser accuses president of telling lies")
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has been accused by law adviser Asif Nazrul of lying soon after his interview, in which he claimed of not having “documentary evidence” of Sheikh Hasina resigning from the Prime Ministerial post before fleeing the country on August 5, went viral.
In an interview with Bangla daily, President Shahabuddin claimed that he just heard Hasina had resigned as prime minister before she fled Bangladesh amid mass protests led by students, but does not have any documentary evidence.
President Shahabuddin went on to allege that despite numerous efforts, he had failed to find any document.
“Perhaps she did not have the time,” he said.
‘Self-contradictory’
Law adviser Asif Nazrul criticised President Shahabuddin for making what he claimed was a “self-contradictory” statement and “akin to a violation of his oath."
Nazrul referred to Shahabuddin’s address to the nation on August 5, hours after Hasina fled from Bangladesh, in which he said that she had handed him her resignation.
“In his speech to the nation on August 5 at 11:20 pm, flanked by the chiefs of the three armed forces, he (the president) explicitly stated that ‘Sheikh Hasina has submitted her resignation letter to me,’ and he accepted it. Afterwards, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division was consulted to seek guidance on the next steps under Article 106 of the Constitution. The then chief justice and other judges provided an opinion,” Nazrul said.
“If someone contradicts their own statements made publicly, that could be considered misconduct. Then questions may arise about their mental capacity to serve as president. The president himself has opened the door to such scrutiny,” a report by The Times of India quoted Nazrul as saying.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“The government’s response suggests that the council of advisers will discuss in a meeting whether Shahabuddin is fit to remain in office,” he further said.
“We know that the constitution says if the president lacks the physical or mental capacity to hold office or commits serious misconduct, steps can be taken regarding that position,” Nazrul said.
What did Bangladesh President say about Hasina’s resignation?
The Bangladesh’s President, during his interview with Manab Zamin, recalled the events of August 5 and said that around 10:30 am, he received a call from Hasina’s residence, informing that she would meet him.
“Hearing this, preparations began at Bangabhaban. Within an hour, another call came, saying she was not coming,” he said.
“There was news of unrest everywhere… I asked my military secretary, General Adil (Major General Mohammad Adil Choudhury), to look into it. He also had no information. We were waiting and checking the TV scrolls. There was no news anywhere. At one point, I heard that she (Hasina) had left the country without informing me. I am telling you the truth as it is,” the president said.
Shahabuddin went on to say that when the Bangladesh army chief, General Waker, visited him at Bangabhaban, he tried to find out whether Hasina had resigned. “The answer was the same: he heard she had resigned but probably did not get the time to inform us. When everything was under control, one day, the cabinet secretary came to collect a copy of the resignation letter. I told him I was also looking for it,” the president further said.
“He said there was no point in debating this anymore; Hasina has left, and that is the truth,” Shahabuddin added.
The Bangladesh President said then he “sought the opinion” of the Supreme Court, who asked for the formation of an interim government to eliminate the constitutional vacuum and facilitate smooth executive operations.
It is worth mentioning that Shahabuddin’s remark that he had “only heard” about Hasina’s resignation supported the statement of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of the former PM, where he said that his mother “never officially resigned” as she “didn’t have the time” to do so.
“My mother never officially resigned. She didn’t get the time,” Wazed was quoted as saying by Reuters from Washington.
“She had planned to make a statement and submit her resignation. But then the protesters started marching on the prime minister’s residence. And there was no time. My mother wasn’t even packed. As far as the constitution goes, she is still the prime minister of Bangladesh,” he had said earlier.
Hasina fled to New Delhi after Bangladesh witnessed widespread protests over preferential quota in government jobs.
With inputs from agencies.
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