Students’ demand to remove president: Jamaat on board, BNP still undecided

Two Islamist parties have agreed in principle with student leaders on the demand to recall President Mohammed Shahabuddin, while the BNP says it will announce its decision after discussions at the party’s forum.

The Islamist parties are Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

The Students Anti-Discrimination Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee have been holding talks with political parties to reach a consensus on the issue for the past few days.

As part of the move, they met a three-member BNP delegation led by its general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday at BNP president’s Gulshan office in the capital.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed and Joint General Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie were also present in the meeting.

“At the meeting, they heard our arguments and said they will let us know about their decision after discussing the matter at their party’s forum,” movement convener Hasnat Abdullah told reporters.

This was the second meeting between BNP and student leaders in the last three days. The first meeting took place on Thursday.

“We are holding discussions with various political parties regarding our proposed new political framework,” Hasnat said.

“The discussion with the BNP focused on three key points, including how to proclaim and establish the ‘Second Republic’; ways to remove President Mohammed Shahabuddin as soon as possible to address the political crisis; and how to maintain national unity while ensuring effective effect. governance”.

Hasnat added that they will also sit with the Gono Forum, the 12 Party Alliance and the Gono Odhikar Parishad to further discuss these issues today.

Earlier on Thursday evening, a delegation of the two student platforms went to the residence of BNP leader Salahuddin, where BNP joint principal general secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was also present.

Sources said the student leaders argued in favor of their demand for the impeachment of the president.

BNP leaders in that meeting said their party felt no sympathy for President Shahabuddin, but had doubts about several factors, including whether there was any vested interest behind efforts to oust the president and the fallout from his resignation.

Earlier on October 23, three top BNP leaders, including Salahuddin, met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and warned of a potential constitutional crisis following the president’s sudden dismissal.

The BNP says a vacancy in the office of president right now will lead to a constitutional and political crisis, which they don’t want.

According to BNP sources, the party is also holding talks with like-minded parties on the issue.

After yesterday’s meeting, Hasnat said they have been sitting with Jamaat and Islami Andolan for the past two days and both sides have clarified their position after agreeing on the demand to recall the president.

The Jamaat meeting was held on October 25 at its central office in Moghbazar where Jamaat General Secretary Mia Ghulam Parwar, Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Deputy General Secretary Hamidur Rahman Azad were present.

Sources at the meeting told The Daily Star that the Jamaat agreed in principle to the demand to recall President Shahabuddin, but stressed that any action should be based on political consensus.

Five leaders of the movement, including Hasnat, met Islami Andolan Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim at Purana Paltan yesterday. Party Presidium Member Ashraf Ali Akon and Senior Joint General Secretary Gazi Ataur Rahman.

In addition to the demand for the recall of the president, the student leaders raised the issue of constitutional reforms.

According to sources, Islami Andolan believes that President Shahabuddin violated his oath by falsifying information about the resignation of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and therefore cannot remain in office.

On rewriting the constitution, the party said it did not want sweeping constitutional changes, but rather favored scrapping the amendments brought by the Awami League between 2009 and 2024.

He also insisted on canceling the three “illegitimate” elections held from 2014 to 2024.

Regarding potential constitutional complications in the event of the president’s impeachment, party joint general secretary Ataur told The Daily Star: “The sudden departure of the prime minister did not create a crisis. Also, the current president was appointed by the deposed prime minister.”