Staff Reporter :
Amid growing political controversy, Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul has accused President Md. Shahabuddin of lying about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, claiming that the President’s recent statements contradict his previous ones and breach his constitutional oath.
In a recent interview with Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, President Shahabuddin stated that he has no documentary evidence of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. This remark conflicts with his August 5 address, where he publicly announced Hasina had submitted her resignation and that he had accepted it.
Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Monday, Nazrul criticized the President’s denial, calling it a blatant falsehood. “The President’s claim of not receiving Hasina’s resignation amounts to breaking his oath,” he said, recalling that Shahabuddin had addressed the nation at 11:20 PM on August 5, in the presence of the heads of the armed forces, and confirmed Hasina’s resignation.
Nazrul outlined the sequence of events, explaining that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court was consulted under Article 106 of the Constitution regarding the next steps after Hasina’s resignation. The Chief Justice and other judges issued an opinion, which began with the statement: “Given the current circumstances in the country, as the Prime Minister has resigned.”
Nazrul emphasized that the law ministry sent a note to the President’s office, supported by the Supreme Court’s opinion, recommending the formation of an interim government. This note, bearing the President’s signature, indicated Shahabuddin had reviewed and accepted the recommendation.
Nazrul accused the President of contradicting himself, stating, “If the President now claims, nearly two and a half months later, that he did not receive Hasina’s resignation, it’s a self-contradiction and a violation of his oath. This raises questions about his eligibility to remain in office.” He further pointed out constitutional provisions for removing a President found guilty of misconduct or incapacity.
The controversy has prompted reactions from other political figures. Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, dismissed the need for a resignation letter, arguing that Hasina’s removal made it irrelevant. “Hasina has been overthrown by a mass uprising. A resignation letter is unnecessary,” Abdullah stated in a Facebook post.
These remarks came after President Shahabuddin mentioned, during his interview with Chowdhury, that although he had heard about Hasina’s resignation, he had not received any official documentation. “I tried to collect the resignation letter many times but failed. Perhaps she didn’t have the time,” the President said in the interview published in Janatar Chokh.
Meanwhile, President Md. Shahabuddin has urged everyone not to stir up any controversy over the resolved matter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. He called on all parties to refrain from creating instability or embarrassment for the interim government by fueling such debates.
This call was made in a statement issued from the President’s office on Monday. The statement noted that the reports circulating in various media, quoting the President regarding the resignation of the former Prime Minister, have created confusion among the public.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also weighed in; with leader Hafizuddin Ahmed asserting that Hasina’s escape to India serves as proof of her resignation. During a discussion in Dhaka, Ahmed accused Shahabuddin of attempting to mislead the public. “She fled the country in the face of public outrage, which itself proves her resignation,” Ahmed claimed, dismissing the need for official documentation.
Criticizing the President’s claims, Ahmed warned of a “vested interest group” trying to manipulate public opinion by falsely portraying Hasina as the legitimate Prime Minister. “What could be a greater falsehood than this?” he added.
The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the BNP’s freedom fighters’ wing, held a program at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), demanding the withdrawal of false cases against BNP leaders, including acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.