The decision regarding the issue of the president’s removal appears to have become uncertain as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday took time to discuss the matter in its own forum, while a delegation of the Student Movement Against Discrimination and the National Citizens’ Committee placed the demand to the party.
Student Movement Against Discrimination led the July-August mass uprising that culminated in the overthrow and fleeing of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, while the National Citizens’ Committee was formed with many of the organisers of the movement who are not currently student.
On Saturday, at a meeting with the BNP they discussed about their demands of removing president Muhammed Shahabuddin, proclamation of the second republic and political consensus for national unity.
The meeting was held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office with party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and joint general secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie attending from its side.
From the protesters’ side, Student Movement Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah, member secretary Arif Sohel, spokesperson Umama Fatema, lead organiser Abudl Hannan Masud, National Citizens’ Committee convener Nasiruddin Patwary, member secretary Akhter Hossain, spokesperson Samanta Sharmin and member Ariful Islam Adib attended the meeting.
Emerging from the meeting, Hasnat told reporters that BNP top leaders heard the demands but did not announce their decision.
‘The BNP leaders said that after discussing the issues, including the president’s removal, in the party forum, they will announce their decision,’ he said.
A BNP leader, however, confirmed New Age that they did not give any specific time to the protesters in this regard.
Hasnat said that they called for national unity on October 23 for removing president Shahabuddin saying that he was an obstacle to the complete abolition of fascism.
‘We ensured Hasina’s overthrow fighting our way towards abolishing fascism. It was our primary victory. Now her [Hasina] appointed president Chuppu [Shahabuddin] must go,’ he stated.
