The interim government has decided to take opinions of different political parties to take any decision over the fate of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
“The fate of President Shahabuddin, whether he will remain in his position or will be removed, will be decided after discussions with different political parties,” environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters after the meeting.
“The government has started discussions with political parties-- whether the president will resign or not. The decision will be taken based on a political consensus,” she added.
Amid escalating tensions following the demands of President’s resignation from different quarters, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party held a crucial meeting with Chief Adviser on Wednesday and urged all to remain alert to avert no new constitutional or political crisis is created in the country.
Experts say that the country may face a constitutional crisis if the President resigns or is removed from his office.
As per Article 50 (3) of the Constitution, the President may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker.
In the wake of mass upsurge, Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India on August 5 and the president dissolved the parliament next day. Even, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury tendered her resignation to the President on September 2.
The issue of President’s removal came on the fore following the President’s remarks on the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a recent interview with Daily Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury.
The President said that although he had heard about Hasina vacating her post, he had no ‘documentary proof’ of her resignation.
Law adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Monday accused President Mohammed Shahabuddin of lying about not receiving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter, suggesting that the President’s statement violated his oath of office.
On Tuesday evening, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir said that the government concurred with the Law Adviser’s stance regarding President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
“The government agrees with what Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said earlier regarding the President,” Jahangir told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in response to a query.
Student-led protesters on Tuesday staged demonstrations across the country, including in front of the Bangabhaban, the official residence of the President, demanding the resignation of President Shahabuddin within 24 hours following his statement on resignation letter of Sheikh Hasina.
At least five people were injured as law enforcers fired bullets and sound grenades at protesters trying to break the barricades in front of the Bangabhaban.
