The BNP appears to be apprehensive about the sudden controversy over the resignation letter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The party, which had been on the receiving end of severe persecution by the Awami League during its 15-year rule, is keeping a close watch on the developments surrounding the issue that has arisen two and a half months after the interim government took over.

"We are worried that the interim government might find itself in a precarious situation, potentially allowing a third party to take advantage," said a senior leader of the BNP, wishing not to be named.

The controversy arose after Manab Zamin's Editor-in-Chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury met President Mohammed Shahabuddin, and the daily's political magazine Janatar Chokh on Sunday ran their conversation where the president claimed he did not have a copy of the prime minister's resignation.

This claim runs contrary to what the president had said in his address to the nation after the fall of Awami League government in the face of a mass uprising. In his August 5 speech, he said the prime minister had tendered her resignation.

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Hasina’s resignation: ‘I have no documentary evidence’

BNP senior leaders said they suspect a move is afoot to remove the president and it may create a constitutional vacuum.

The party believes any constitutional crisis regarding the issue should be avoided at this moment, the senior leaders said.

The senior BNP leaders held a virtual meeting on Tuesday night and decided to make the party's position clear to the interim government.

Accordingly, a three-member delegation went to meet the chief adviser yesterday. There, the BNP spoke of its stance on the issue of calling for the president's resignation, said party sources.

At the party forum on Tuesday, BNP leaders discussed elaborately how things unfolded in the last few days.

They said the question over the former PM's resignation letter; then the demand for the president's resignation, and laying siege to the Bangabhaban are suspicious and there may be a conspiracy behind these.

Three senior leaders wishing not to be named told The Daily Star that they wonder whether this sudden move is an attempt to extend the term of the interim government.

They said the country's constitution was not suspended after the change of government following the uprising. The president administered oath to the members of the interim government. So, they argued, there is no question of going beyond the constitution now.

They said they are trying to figure out why the president claimed he did not have the resignation letter of Hasina.

"Almost all the senior leaders agree that removing the president won't be the right thing to do now," one of the standing committee members said.

After yesterday's meeting, Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP standing committee, said his party's delegation had urged the government to make sure that it does not give rise to a constitutional vacuum or crisis.

Salahuddin Ahmed, another standing committee member, said the president's is a constitutional post, and a sudden resignation will lead to a  crisis.

A Chhatra League leader attacked the BNP candidate for Narayanganj-3 constituency Azharul Islam Mannan at a law and order meeting on electoral code of conduct at Sonargaon upazila parishad today.

Mannan told The Daily Star that the Chhatra League leader Ikramul Hasan alias Rony Billah entered the Upazila Parishad conference room and attacked him in presence of the OC and the UNO. 

He said Rony Billah hit him with water bottle, suffocated him and tried to hit with iron rod.  He said, later police rescued him.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md Shahinul Islam, Sonargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Morshed Alam and eight candidates were present at the meeting. 

Police arrested Rony Billah, son of Nasiruddin of Bhattapur village, and later a mobile court jailed him for three months, the UNO said.

AL men foil Rob, Manna’s electioneering

The electioneering of Jatiya Oikyafront candidate for Dhaka-18, Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, is hindered allegedly by the activists of Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance on Thursday, December 13, 2018. The photo shows that after been bared by the AL men, Rob and Manna deliver speeches and instruct the party men on polls day.

The electioneering of Jatiya Oikyafront candidate for Dhaka-18, Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, was hindered allegedly by the activists of Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance this afternoon.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rob and Nagoric Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna along with a number of their followers started the election campaign in Uttar Khan area of the constituency.

At one stage, the ruling Awami League men also swarmed Rob and Manna around and started chanting slogans for “Boat,” and also chased them, our staff reporter reports quoting the Oikyafront leaders.

On information, police rushed to the spot and took the situation under control by taking the Oikyafront leaders to a safe place.

Shaheed Uddin Mahmud, also the leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, is contesting the polls with “Sheaf of Paddy” against his counterpart Awami League nominated candidate advocate Sahara Khatun in the parliamentary constituency.

After been bared by the AL men, Rob and Manna equivocally claimed that their candidates are being hindered by the ruling quarter deliberately.

They also urged the voters and their supporters to guard the polling centres from the early hour of the voting day.

BNP candidate’s motorcade attacked in Noakhali

Besides, the motorcade of BNP nominated candidate for Noakhali-6 constituency, Engineer Mohammad Fazlul Azim came under attack allegedly by Awami League men this evening.

At least 15 leaders and activists from both the ruling and opposition camps were injured during the attack, reports our Noakhali correspondent.

A group of ruling party men attacked his motorcade and snatched three motorcycles of his followers away when he was carrying out the electioneering in Thanar hat area of Nolerchar union, Azim alleged.

The Awami League men also carried out another attack on his party men at Darbesh Bazar in Chandi union without any provocation, leaving some of his party men injured, he alleged.       

The injured activists were given primary treatment at different local hospitals, claimed Azim. 

Meanwhile, AL nominated candidate for the same constituency, Ayesha Ferdous, said BNP candidate and its followers started election campaign equipped with “firearms” and delivered provocative speeches.

M Ilias Sharif, superintendent of police in Noakhali, said a chase and counter took place between the supporters of AL and BNP candidates as provocative speeches came from both the camps.

On information, police went there and brought the situation under control.

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain left for Singapore last night for treatment.

The 81-year-old eminent jurist, along with his wife Hamida Hossain, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Singapore Airlines flight at 10:30pm, Gonoforum central committee member Rafiqul Islam Pothik confirmed to The Daily Star. 

He said Dr Kamal, also the president of Gonoforum, might go to Thailand from Singapore for medical purposes.

The Oikyafront chief is likely to return home on January 27, said Gonoforum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu.

The BNP and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement seem to be at odds over the removal of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The interim government, meantime, has yet to clarify its stance on the issue.

After a meeting between a BNP delegation and Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus around noon yesterday, the party said vacancy in the  president's post at this moment would put "the state in a crisis and create a constitutional vacuum", which the nation does not desire.  

Briefing reporters outside the state guesthouse Jamuna, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, said his party had urged the government to make sure there was no constitutional vacuum or crisis.

"If the lackeys of the fallen autocrat try to create any constitutional and political crisis, the pro-democracy political parties and different organisations will face it together," Nazrul said, urging everyone to be cautious so that a new constitutional or political crisis is not created.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and special assistant to the chief adviser Mahfuj Alam were present at the meeting.

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BNP wary of constitutional vacuum

Queried by journalists about the BNP's opinion regarding the demand for the president's resignation, Nazrul Islam Khan said, "Nothing specific. We have said everyone should be careful so that no new constitutional or political crisis is created. If anyone wants to do that, we will face it together."

He, along with BNP standing committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud and Salahuddin Ahmed, represented the BNP at the meeting.

Later, at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan, Salahuddin told reporters, "The presidency is the highest constitutional position, and it is also an institution. If this position becomes vacant due to resignation or removal, it will create a constitutional and national crisis."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee at a press briefing yesterday evening called for national unity for scrapping of the 1972 constitution and removal of the president.

Protesters gather outside the Bangabhaban yesterday afternoon to stage a demo demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Photo: Palash Khan

At the presser, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the four-member committee of the movement, urged all parties, except the Awami League, pro-AL student body Chhatra League, and the Jatiya Party, to respond to the call for national unity.

He said, "If any party does not join us in the call for the repeal of the 1972 constitution and the president's resignation, we will boycott them. We will not accept the 1972 constitution, as its existence prolongs the political crisis.

"This constitution has always established and reinforced a fascist structure. Sheikh Hasina has always said that 'we must maintain constitutional continuity'. Whenever she was asked to resign or hold discussions about a caretaker or neutral government, she would readily refer to the need to uphold this constitution," he said.

"Our demand is for President Shahabuddin to resign. However, we do not want this type of movement to escalate. We have already communicated with the protesters near the Bangabhaban. I urge those involved to trust the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We will lead collectively and face all conspiracies through our activism."

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Hasina’s resignation: ‘I have no documentary evidence’

Nasir Uddin Patwari, a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said, "We are engaging with the political elite but do not seek roundtable discussions. We believe in addressing issues on the streets. Sheikh Hasina has evaded accountability on the streets, and it is there that decisions will be made."

Meanwhile, Information Adviser Nahid Islam stressed the need for political consensus and national unity, rather than following legal or constitutional procedures for any decision regarding the president.

"The interim government is consulting with all stakeholders, and a decision may be forthcoming … ," he told reporters at the Secretariat.

"Whether the president will remain in office is currently not a legal or constitutional question. It is a political decision. To make the decision [on the president], we are prioritising stability, security, and discipline in the state," Nahid said.

The adviser called upon the protesters not to stage demonstrations as the government has received their message.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the government has not made any decision regarding the removal of the president from office.

"We will inform you of any development regarding the matter," he told reporters after the meeting with the BNP.

The debate regarding the removal of the president started after daily Manab Zamin's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" on Sunday published an article containing the president's remarks that he heard Sheikh Hasina had resigned as the prime minister, but he did not have any documentary evidence.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not have the time," he was quoted as saying.

The next day, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the president lied, and it was akin to misconduct. He questioned the president's mental capacity to serve.

Later, student bodies, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demanded the removal of the president.

On Tuesday, several hundred protesters under the banners Raktim July 2024 and Shadhinota-Sharbobhoumotto Rokkha Committee attempted to break through the security barriers in front of the Bangabhaban.

A robust four-layer security measure has been established at the Bangabhaban. But demonstrators have made sporadic attempts to gather near the president's official residence.

The BNP believes that the cabinet expansion is an attempt of this interim government to prolong its stay in power. Considering this, the party plans to beef up its street programmes to put pressure on the government to call for elections, said party leaders.

The issue of making the cabinet larger was discussed in the standing committee meeting, the highest policymaking body of the party, held at its Gulshan office on Monday night.

At the beginning of the meeting, a standing committee member raised the issues of expansion and the Interim Government Ordinance 2024.

The BNP leaders discussed the draft ordinance that specifies that the caretaker administration will remain in power until the 13th parliamentary election is held and a new prime minister takes charge, with no fixed term outlined. Questions cannot be raised over the appointments of the chief adviser and other advisers as per the draft ordinance.

Party leaders in the meeting said that such a draft was expected but some members expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on the specific number of advisers in the interim government. Regarding the appointments of three new advisers, BNP leaders said that as questions were raised from different quarters about the appointments of two advisers, the party must move cautiously.

If they were appointed after proper scrutiny, controversy could have been averted, said a standing committee member, wishing not to be named.

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Three more advisers sworn in

Earlier, the BNP expressed reservations about another adviser, Ali Imam Majumdar. The interim government appointed renowned filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, AkijBashir Group Managing Director Sk Bashir Uddin, and special assistant to chief adviser Mahfuj Alam as advisers to the interim government on Sunday.

The chief adviser also reassigned some advisers and appointed three special assistants who would be of the rank of state ministers.

Party leaders decided that they must put pressure on the government over the election and would hold 10 rallies in different organisational divisions of the party, said meeting sources.

"We have to hold big rallies that will exert pressure on the government and then the interim government will go for elections. Otherwise, the government won't do it," said another leader.

The party will organise a rally on December 16 to mark Victory Day.

Earlier in this month, the BNP decided to take to the streets in March or April next year if the interim government does not declare an election roadmap. The party also discussed it at the November 7 rally where tens of thousands of people joined.

In Monday's standing committee meeting, some party members also gave their views on the BNP-Jamaat relationship, said meeting sources.

In the changed circumstances after August 5, BNP's distance from Jamaat has widened, particularly regarding appointments to key positions in the administration and field-level offices. Certain statements from Jamaat leaders have caused a degree of "dissatisfaction" within BNP.

Despite this, some members commented that the BNP should not widen its distance from Jamaat for the sake of national unity, which is essential for the parliamentary election, said party leaders.

However, a few opined differently on the issue.