President Mohammed Shahabuddin has urged the country's people to refrain from creating any further controversy surrounding the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
This appeal comes in light of a media campaign quoting the president, which has resulted in widespread confusion among citizens regarding the circumstances of Hasina's departure, according to a press release of the President’s Press Wing on Monday .
The president clarified that all pertinent questions related to the resignation and departure from the country—prompted by a student-people led revolution—were thoroughly addressed in Special Reference No. 01/2024, as outlined in the Honourable Supreme Court's Appellate Division ruling on August 8, 2024.
The ruling also examined the dissolution of Parliament and the constitutional legitimacy of the current interim government.
According to Article 106 of the Constitution, the president sought the Supreme Court's opinion on these matters, which was duly provided by the Appellate Division.
In light of these developments, President Shahabuddin has called on all parties to respect the resolution of this matter and to avoid actions that could destabilise or embarrass the interim government. This call for unity aims to foster stability during a crucial period in the nation's political landscape.
The issue came to light again after in a recent interview with Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Manab Zamin, President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
In the interview published in "Jonotar Chokh," President Mohammad Shahabuddin discussed the chaotic political landscape following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He recounted multiple attempts to collect resignation letters but faced challenges, implying that the timing was not right.
On August 5, at 10:30am, a phone call from the prime minister’s residence indicated that Sheikh Hasina would meet with the president. However, within an hour, another call canceled the meeting.
"There were reports of unrest everywhere," the president noted. "I couldn’t rely on rumors, so I asked my military secretary, General Adil, to find out more, but he had no information."
He described the confusion surrounding Hasina’s status, saying: "At one point, I heard she (Hasina) had left the country without informing me."
President Shahabuddin also revealed that when Army Chief General Waker visited him, he inquired about the prime minister's resignation. "I heard she had resigned; it seems she didn’t have time to inform anyone," he stated.
As the situation unfolded, the Cabinet Secretary came to collect a copy of the resignation letter, to which the President replied: "I am also looking for it. There is no room for debate on this issue. Sheikh Hasina has left, and that is the truth."
To prevent further speculation, he sought the Supreme Court's opinion on the matter.
On August 5, a student-led uprising led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, prompting her to flee to India. In a subsequent address to the nation, General Waker announced the prime minister's resignation, followed by President Shahabuddin’s confirmation that he accepted her(ousted fascist Sheikh Hasina) resignation.
