Mohammed Shahabuddin has stepped down as president after reaching an understanding with BNP that he would be allowed to leave the country without obstruction.
However, although the ruling party agreed to these conditions, it did not want to take responsibility for any cases or scandals involving Shahabuddin that predated his presidency.
Several senior BNP leaders indicated as much in conversations, though none wished to speak publicly.
They further said Shahabuddin resigned only after receiving assurances that he would be able to move freely while in Bangladesh.
According to the leaders, BNP agreed only that he would not face trouble over any presidential decisions protected under Article 51 of the Constitution.
The party considers it safer for Shahabuddin, who was elected president during the ousted Awami League regime, to leave the country quickly.
The former president also wants to travel abroad soon after his resignation. Speaking to the media on Friday after stepping down, he said, “Once I recover somewhat, I will go abroad in 10 or 12 days.”
Asked about Shahabuddin’s resignation, BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir declined to comment.
Avoiding the issue, he told TIMES, “A new president will be elected in parliament within the next 90 days. The decision will be taken at the party’s policymaking meeting.”
Some senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were aware in advance of Shahabuddin’s resignation and the understanding with BNP.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one senior Jamaat leader told TIMES, “There was pressure from our side to impeach the president. Taking various factors into consideration, BNP also no longer wanted to keep him. In the end, BNP wanted Shahabuddin to leave the country after giving him a dignified exit.”
Although Shahabuddin will continue to receive VVIP protocol after resigning, BNP believes it would be safer for him to leave the country because organisations, including National Citizen Party (NCP), could create trouble at his residence at any time.
A flat at Green Villa in Gulshan-1 is already being prepared for Shahabuddin. He will move there after leaving Bangabhaban.
Sagar Hossain, assistant private secretary to the president, told TIMES, “Former president Shahabuddin will move to the Gulshan flat on Sunday or Monday. He is still at Bangabhaban.”
BNP leaders have adopted a strategy of saying nothing beyond the official explanation that the president resigned because of a “serious illness”.
At a press conference on Friday, Speaker and acting president Hafiz Uddin Ahmad was asked whether Shahabuddin had resigned for any other reason.
He replied, “The president is a human being. He resigned because of illness. I will say nothing beyond that.”
Since resigning, Shahabuddin has also maintained that he stepped down solely because of ill health.
However, since coming to power, BNP had wanted to give the president a dignified farewell.
Further evidence that the party does not want Shahabuddin to face trouble came from Law Minister Mohammed Asaduzzaman on Saturday.
Responding to a question, he said, “If any case is filed against the president, it will be scrutinised. The motives behind the allegations against him will also be examined. The law provides protection to the president.”
The law minister’s remarks indicate that the government does not want Shahabuddin to face trouble over decisions he took while serving as president.
However, BNP will not assume responsibility for any alleged irregularities or corruption committed before he became president, including during his tenure at the Anti-Corruption Commission or while serving on the board of Islami Bank.
The party also does not wish to take responsibility for the former president’s alleged links with controversial S Alam Group.
Allegations regarding Shahabuddin’s involvement in the takeover of Islami Bank have already resurfaced.
An investigation report submitted by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to the High Court claims that he joined the bank’s board of directors in 2017 as a representative of JMC Builders and later became vice-chairman.
The report alleges that S Alam Group established control over the bank through share fraud, embezzlement and irregular loan approvals.
The matter is currently pending before the High Court, with a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
On Friday afternoon, Shahabuddin submitted his resignation letter to Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.
After accepting the resignation, the speaker assumed the responsibilities of acting president in accordance with the Constitution.
On Saturday, the Cabinet Division issued two gazette notifications—one confirming Hafiz Uddin Ahmad’s assumption of presidential duties and the other confirming Shahabuddin’s resignation.
Meanwhile, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman said, “A new president will be elected in parliament within the next 90 days. Parliament will sit in September, and the president will be elected there.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said no final decision had yet been taken on who would become the next president.
