Dhaka, Bangladesh – The atmosphere in Bangladesh remains charged as several hundred protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace, demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The unrest was sparked by the President's controversial comments regarding deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5 amidst a wave of student-led protests. In an interview with Bangla daily Manab Zamin, Shahabuddin claimed he lacked documentary evidence of Hasina’s resignation prior to her departure, igniting fury among demonstrators.
Witnesses and live television footage captured scenes of protesters clashing with police as they attempted to breach the Bangabhaban, the official residence of the President. Law enforcement responded by firing sound grenades to disperse the crowd, while military personnel later intervened to help restore order. Tragically, reports from The Business Standard indicate that two individuals suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontations, while a third was injured by a sound grenade. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which was pivotal in the campaign to oust Hasina, led the protests, setting a seven-day ultimatum for Shahabuddin’s removal.
They also put forth five key demands, including the abolition of Bangladesh's 1972 Constitution. “Our primary demand is the immediate scrapping of the 1972 Constitution, which has enabled the current president to remain in office,” stated Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator for the movement, during a rally at Central Shaheed Minar. He emphasized that a new constitution is necessary to reflect the current political landscape as the nation approaches critical elections in 2024. The protests drew significant participation from various groups across Dhaka University and surrounding areas, uniting under the common goal of seeking Shahabuddin's resignation.
Law affairs adviser to the interim government, Asif Nazrul, has publicly accused the President of "falsehood" regarding his statements about Hasina's resignation, suggesting that if Shahabuddin persists with his claims, he may need to reconsider his qualifications for office. In a televised address made shortly after Hasina's departure, Shahabuddin had implied that he received a resignation letter from the former prime minister, a statement that has since come under scrutiny. Nazrul pointed out the contradiction, stating that if the President did not accept the resignation letter, one of his previous statements would be proven false.
Meanwhile, in light of ongoing tensions, the Bangabhaban issued a statement urging the public not to reignite controversies over what it described as a “settled issue.” The statement aimed to clarify the circumstances surrounding Hasina’s resignation and the subsequent establishment of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who assumed the role of Chief Adviser on August 8. As tensions simmer, experts caution that the Parliament holds the authority to impeach the president, but with the current political climate, many actions seem to be unfolding outside the boundaries of the law. The situation remains fluid, with protesters vowing to escalate their actions if their demands are not met by the end of the week.
