Bangladesh Faces New Political Unrest as Student Group Calls for President Shahabuddin’s Resignation
Bangladesh is currently going through a period of tension. Following the recent removal of Sheikh Hasina from office, there has been widespread violence against Hindus in the country.
On Wednesday, political unrest escalated once again when a prominent student group demanded the resignation of the country’s ceremonial President, Mohammed Shahabuddin.
It is being reported that some of his remarks appeared to question the resignation of former President Sheikh Hasina in August. The interim government is set to hold a cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss this issue.
President Shahabuddin Faces Ultimatum from Student Protesters
The student group known as the "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement" has given President Mohammed Shahabuddin a two-day ultimatum to step down from office.
On Tuesday, hundreds of protestors rallied in the capital, Dhaka, while others attempted to storm the presidential residence, Bangabhaban.
The latest wave of political unrest began when Shahabuddin, in an interview with a Bengali-language newspaper earlier this week, stated that he had not seen Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter because she fled to India during the student-led uprising in August.
After Hasina resigned on August 5, a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took control and formed a new government in Bangladesh.
Student Organization Demands President's Resignation
In an interview with the Manab Zamin daily newspaper, Shahabuddin stated that he had only heard about Sheikh Hasina's resignation but had not seen the actual resignation letter.
This remark angered the Yunus-led government and student activists, prompting them to call for his resignation.