TDS Desk:

Nahid said he neither listened to nor read the president’s speech, adding that his party had rejected

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has called for the removal and arrest of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

“There is no moral ground for this president to remain at Bangabhaban or to address parliament,” he said while taking part in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the president’s speech during the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad today (30 April).

Nahid further added that he neither listened to nor read the president’s speech, adding that his party had rejected both the speech and the opportunity given to deliver it.

“We made it very clear that this president must be removed and arrested. He no longer has any right to stay at Bangabhaban or to come here and deliver a speech,” he said.

“I would like to place before the House some of the alleged misdeeds of Chuppu. He served as a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He was reportedly given three assignments during his tenure. First, to ensure punishment in corruption cases against Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. Second, to give a clean chit to the Awami League in allegations related to the Padma Bridge. Third, to dismiss corruption cases filed against Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders during the Fakhruddin-Moeenuddin caretaker government. Yet such a person is still being accepted as president,” Nahid added.

“A judicial inquiry commission led by Shahabuddin in 2009 had blamed BNP leaders and activists for violence against minorities in 2001, which, he claimed, was later used politically by the Awami League at home and abroad,” he said.

Nahid further accused the president of involvement in alleged irregularities in the banking sector, including Islami Bank, and criticised his role during the July killings, claiming links with “fascism.”

He added that students had demanded the president’s removal following the July uprising, but BNP had then supported him citing constitutional continuity. “Now that there is an elected government, why is he still not being removed?” Nahid questioned.