One of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat Abdullah, has said Sheikh Hasina was ousted, with an illegal government being overthrown through an uprising, noting that there was no role for resignation papers in it.
Hasnat made the remark in a post on his verified Facebook account on Monday afternoon, following the publication of a statement from President Mohammed Shahabuddin in the media where he mentioned that he has no documentary evidence or paperwork of Hasina’s resignation as prime minister.
Despite numerous efforts, he had failed to find any documents, the president told Manab Zamin Editor-in-Chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury during a conversation, published in the Bangla daily’s political magazine Jonotar Chokh on Saturday.
“Perhaps she did not have the time,” the president said.
Narrating the events of August 5, he said that at around 10:30am, a call came to Bangabhaban from the former prime minister's residence, informing the former that Hasina would meet with the president.
“Hearing this, preparations began at Bangabhaban. Within an hour, another call came, saying she was not coming.”
He continued: "There was news of unrest everywhere. I did not know what was going to happen. I could not just sit around relying on rumours. So 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 had left the country without informing me. I am telling you the truth as it is.
“Anyway, when the army chief, General Waker, came to Bangabhaban, I tried to find out whether the prime minister 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.”
At one point, the president said there was no point in debating this anymore. “The prime minister has left, and that is the truth. Still, to ensure that this question never arises again, I sought the opinion of the Supreme Court."
In response to the president's reference, the Appellate Division, led by then-chief justice Obaidul Hasan, gave their opinion on August 8, saying that in the emerging situation, an interim government could be formed to eliminate the constitutional vacuum and facilitate smooth executive operations.
The Appellate Division opined that the president could administer the oath to the chief adviser of the interim government and the advisory council.
Amid a mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina on August 5 resigned and fled to India, where she is currently staying.
