There will be no elections in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina is still the Prime Minister? 'I was not given resignation', President claims after two and a half months

Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin has said that he has no documentary evidence that Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister. Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister before leaving the country amid massive protests led by students in August, but Mohammad Shahabuddin's claim has created a ruckus in politics. Muhammad Yunus became the chief advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh on August 8 and Sheikh Hasina left for India on August 5.

The Dhaka Tribune newspaper published excerpts from President Mohammad Shahabuddin's interview with the Bengali daily Manab Jamin in the newspaper on Monday (October 21, 2024). The report quoted Shahabuddin as saying that he said, 'I have heard that Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister before leaving Bangladesh, but there is no documentary evidence of this.' The President said that despite many efforts he could not find any documents. Shahabuddin said, 'Maybe she (Hasina) did not have time.'

Giving details of the August 5 incident, he said that at around 10:30 am, a call was received from Sheikh Hasina's residence to Bangabhaban informing that Hasina would meet him. The President said, "On hearing this, preparations began at Bangabhaban. Within an hour, another call came saying she was not coming." He said, "There were reports of unrest everywhere... I asked my military secretary General Adil (Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury) to look into it. He also had no information. We were waiting and watching TV. There was no news anywhere. Then, I heard that she (Hasina) had left the country without informing me. I am telling you the truth." Shahabuddin said, "When Army Chief General Walker came to Bangabhaban, I tried to find out if the Prime Minister had resigned. The answer was this: he had heard that she had resigned, but perhaps he did not get time to inform us. When everything was under control, one day the Cabinet Secretary came to take a copy of the resignation. I told him that I was also looking for it. He said that there is no point in debating it now; Hasina is gone and that is the truth.

According to the President, the Supreme Court said that in the current situation, an interim government can be formed to end the constitutional vacuum and to ensure smooth executive functioning. The court said that the President can administer the oath to the Chief Advisor and Advisory Council of the interim government. Meanwhile, Law Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul said on Monday that if the President claims after about two and a half months that the former Prime Minister has not resigned, it would be a contradiction in itself.

Nazrul said, 'This is tantamount to a violation of his oath, because in his address to the nation on August 5 at 11:20 pm, along with the chiefs of the three armed forces, he (the President) had clearly said that Sheikh Hasina has submitted her resignation to me and he accepted it. After this, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court was consulted to seek guidance on the next steps under Article 106 of the Constitution. The then Chief Justice and other judges gave an opinion.'

The first line of that opinion was since the Prime Minister has resigned in the current circumstances... after the resignation of the Prime Minister and the dissolution of Parliament by the President, we sent a note from the ministry's office to the President based on the opinion of the Appellate Division regarding the formation of an interim government. The President reviewed this opinion and accepted it. After this, he took steps towards forming an interim government.'

Sheikh Hasina's arch-rival and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said that the President lied in her address to the nation about Hasina's resignation from the post of Prime Minister of Bangladesh. BNP Vice President Zainul Abedin told reporters, 'I would say that the President has made this statement under a specific agenda two months after the formation of the government. The President has lied.' The president’s interview with Manab Zamin was published in its political magazine Jantatrik Chokh on Saturday.