Advisory council to decide next course of action, if the president maintains his position violating oath of office

TDS Desk:

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has lied and violated his oath of office by stating he cannot find the resignation letter of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, law adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters Monday during a briefing at Bangladesh Secretariat.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has lied and violated his oath of office by stating he cannot find the resignation letter of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, law adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters Monday during a briefing at Bangladesh Secretariat.

It is open to question if the president is still qualified to hold his post, the law adviser said adding if Shahabuddin stays determined on his statement the matter would be decided at the advisory council.

Shahabuddin’s statement was included in an interview published on the daily Manab Zamin on Sunday.

In the interview, Shahabuddin told the Bangla newspaper that he “heard” Sheikh Hasina had resigned on 5 August, but could not find her resignation letter, despite repeated attempts.

However, on the night of 5 August, Shahabuddin delivered an address to the nation, where he said the former prime minister had submitted her resignation paper and that he had accepted it, as per law adviser Asif Nazrul.

At the time, the chiefs of three armed forces stood behind the president.

In the Manab Zamin interview, Shahabuddin also claimed that Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman came to meet the president at his official residence Bangabhaban.

There the army chief claimed he also “heard” Hasina had resigned as prime minister, and probably did not get the time to let others know, Shahabuddin said during the interview.