Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul Questions President’s Contradictory Claims on Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation

Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has responded to President Mohammed Shahabuddin‍‍`s recent statements regarding the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

On August 5, the President publicly acknowledged receiving and accepting Hasina’s resignation letter. 

Dr. Nazrul highlighted that if the President now asserts that no resignation letter was submitted, it represents a contradiction of his earlier claims.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday, Dr. Nazrul emphasized that the nation‍‍`s actions have clearly demonstrated that Hasina did resign, and the President accepted her resignation. 

He pointed out that the President’s earlier statement, made in the presence of the chiefs of the armed forces, explicitly stated, “Sheikh Hasina has submitted her resignation letter to me,” and he had accepted it.

Dr. Nazrul further noted that after the resignation, the Supreme Court‍‍`s Appellate Division was consulted regarding the next steps as outlined in Article 106 of the Constitution. 

The court‍‍`s opinion began with the acknowledgment of the Prime Minister‍‍`s resignation under the current circumstances.

Following this, the President dissolved Parliament and initiated the formation of an interim government based on the Appellate Division‍‍`s guidance.

The legal adviser raised concerns about the President‍‍`s competence, stating, “According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, action can be taken if the President lacks mental or physical capability or engages in serious misconduct.”

He questioned how the President could publicly announce the resignation and then claim otherwise later, indicating that such contradictory statements are unacceptable.

In response to queries about the whereabouts of the resignation letter, Dr. Nazrul clarified that it should be in the President‍‍`s office, as the letter was meant to be submitted to him. 

He emphasized that, under Bangladeshi law, the issue cannot be raised in court. He urged the President to clarify what happened to the resignation letter if he now claims it does not exist.

Notably, in an exclusive interview published last Saturday in the political magazine "Jonotar Chokh," President Shahabuddin stated that he had heard about Sheikh Hasina‍‍`s resignation but had not received any official documentation or evidence regarding it.