Pressure mounts for ouster of Bangladesh President

DHAKA - Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin faces growing pressure to quit from leaders of the revolution that toppled autocratic former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August.

The leaders of the revolution argue that Mr Shahabuddin, 74, widely known as “Chuppu”, was Ms Hasina’s appointee.

Mr Shahabuddin was elected by Parliament in 2023 by Ms Hasina’s now ousted Awami League. The post is largely ceremonial but his potential removal from the role has sparked fears of a constitutional vacuum.

“Any decision regarding the removal of the President will be based on political consensus,” Mr Shafiqul Alam, press adviser to the interim government that replaced Ms Hasina, said on Oct 28.

The interim government is led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as its “chief adviser”.

Government spokesman Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a minister in Mr Yunus’ Cabinet, said there is “an ongoing discussion regarding the removal” of Mr Shahabuddin.

“It must be considered whether a government formed after a revolution should retain a president who was selected by a fascist government,” Mr Hasan told reporters on Oct 27.

“The demand for his removal stems from claims that he does not align with the spirit of the movement.”

Earlier in October, Mr Shahabuddin sparked furious protests after he said he had never seen a resignation letter from Ms Hasina – raising the prospect that her departure had been unlawful.

Soon after, Mr Asif Nazrul, a student protest leader now serving in Mr Yunus’ government, charged that Mr Shahabuddin’s comments were a “violation of his oath of office”.

Last week, police clashed with a crowd of hundreds who tried to storm the presidential compound, leaving 30 officers and protesters injured.

‘Fragile state’

But those pushing for Mr Shahabuddin’s removal face constitutional hurdles.

To impeach the president requires a two-thirds vote by Parliament, with the Speaker then assuming the post.

Parliament, however, was suspended following Ms Hasina’s ouster, meaning the process to remove a president – and who would choose his successor – is open to question.

Mr Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary-general of the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said: “If we want to make the most of this uprising, we should not be guided by whims that may create a constitutional vacuum.”

Mr Hasnat Abdullah, convener of Students Against Discrimination, the protest group credited with sparking the uprising against Ms Hasina, demanded a swift decision.

“We don’t want this situation to linger,” he said, claiming that only the BNP opposed removing him.

But political science professor Mamun Al Mostofa from the University of Dhaka warned that challenging the post could lead to wider difficulties.

“Can the people reach a consensus on a candidate? Even if they do, who knows if there will be protests the next day?“ Dr Al Mostafa said.

“The government is in a fragile state, and it is unlikely they could handle such instability. What would follow then? Another cycle of anarchy.” AFP