‘Everybody Lied’: Bangladesh Plot Thickens Amid Mystery Over Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s recent claim on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power and country reignited.
The debate surrounding the mystery of her resignation, with renowned people such as Taslima Nasrin questioning the lack of “evidence” of her move before she fled to India on August 5 this year.
Shahabuddin’s latest remark sparked massive protests in Dhaka, in which the protestors demanded his resignation, accusing him of “falsehood” while terming his statement a “violation of his oath of office”. His statement led to speculations and accusations of foul play by the military to throw Hasina out of power.
WHAT LED TO FRESH PROTESTS IN BANGLADESH AGAIN?
Hundreds of protestors attempted to storm the presidential palace, known as Bangabhaban, on Tuesday, demanding resignation of the President, however, they were blocked by the army with the help of barricades. On Tuesday, several hundred protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace, known as Bangabhaban, but the army blocked their way with barricades.
The massive uprising months after Hasina’s exit came after Shahabuddin recently claimed in an interview with the Bangla daily Manab Zamin that he “tried to collect” the resignation letter several times, however, Hasina might not have had time to resign as protests erupted in the capital city and she was forced to flee the country.
“I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time,” the president was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
On the contrary, he had said in the August 5 address to the nation televised at night, hours after Hasina flew to India to seek asylum, that he had received the Prime Minister’s resignation letter.
“You know Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tendered her resignation letter to the president, and I have received it,” he had claimed while flanked by army personnel, including Army Chief General Waker uz Zaman.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST ACCUSATIONS?
Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasrin accused the top officials including the Army Chief, and President of “lying” stating that the resignation letter never came to the fore.
“Everybody in Bangladesh lied. Army chief said Hasina resigned. President said Hasina resigned. Yunus said Hasina resigned. But nobody has seen the resignation letter. Resignation letter is like a god, everybody says it is there, but nobody can show or prove it is there,” she tweeted.
Indian strategic thinker, author, and commentator Brahma Chellaney also claimed that the Bangladeshi military forced Hasina to flee to India “without she resigning as PM”. He cited Shahabuddin’s latest claim on no evidence of resignation and said that it illustrates that the current regime of Muhammad Yunus, who was appointed the advisor to the interim government after Hasina’s exit, is an “usurper regime”.
“The military packed Hasina off to India without she resigning as PM. Now, Bangladesh President Shahabuddin’s admission that “maybe she did not get the time” to resign has set off a political firestorm, as it shows that the military-installed interim regime is an usurper regime. This, in turn, has led the interim regime’s law adviser to question the president’s mental acuity and to warn that the interim government would discuss in a meeting whether Shahabuddin could remain as president,” he tweeted.