Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad are taking down portraits of President Shahabuddin even though no official instruction has been issued in this regard.
According to foreign ministry officials, an informal "no-portrait" policy has been in practice for the last several months.
"No written instruction was issued from the headquarters regarding removal of the president's portrait. However, the hints must be understood," UNB quoted a senior diplomat as saying.
President Shahabuddin, better known as Chuppu, became the talk of the town several times in the last one year.
The removal of his portrait from foreign diplomatic missions has again made him the subject of discussions.
Let's find out when, and for what issues President Shahabuddin hit the headlines.
Hasnat's Facebook post demanding his removal
On 3 October 2024, Hasnat Abdullah, currently the chief organiser of the National Citizen Party's southern region, wrote on Facebook that the Awami League must face trial, a new constitution must be drafted, corrupt bureaucrats must be replaced, and President Chuppu must be removed from the post.
A few hours later, another leader of the July uprising, Sarjis Alam, wrote the same thing on Facebook.
However, an uproar over Shahabuddin started 16 days later when Manab Zamin published his interview in which he said, "I have heard that Sheikh Hasina has resigned. But I have no documentary evidence of it.
"Despite several attempts, I could not get any formal documentation, perhaps she did not have the time [to write a letter]. On 5 August around 10:30am, [someone] called from the prime minister's residence and informed me that she would be coming to the Bangabhaban to see me. Preparations began at the Bangabhaban immediately, but within an hour, another call was made cancelling the visit."
On August 5, he said in a televised address to the nation that he had accepted Hasina's resignation. "You are aware that Sheikh Hasina has submitted her resignation to the president, and I have accepted it," he said.
Protest against president's statement
After Manab Zamin ran the interview, Sarjis, now an NCP leader, told a press conference on 21 October, "We could not form the national government as we had expected. As a result, a man like Chuppu still occupies the president's office. How dare he say this? With what authority does he claim he has not seen Hasina's resignation letter himself? If that is true, the student community of Bangladesh will now decide what actions should be taken against him, and where he truly belongs."
On the same day, Hasnat wrote on Facebook that with Hasina's ouster, an illegitimate government had been "overthrown", and resignation letters were irrelevant in this context.
On 22 October, leaders of Students Against Discrimination at a rally demanded Chuppu's resignation, and a ban on Chhatra League.
Protests in front of Bangabhaban
The same day, protesters demanding President Shahabuddin's resignation gathered in front of the Bangabhaban.
The demonstrators who gathered there early in the afternoon, tried to breach the security barriers after nightfall, leading to a confrontation with law enforcement. The police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
The protesters alleged that President Shahabuddin was acting in favour of the Awami League.
President lied: Law adviser
On October 21, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said, "The president's remark that he had not received the resignation letter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina is a lie, and it is tantamount to violating his oath.
"He himself said in his address to the nation at 11:20pm on August 5, with the chiefs of the three national services behind him, that he received and accepted the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina."
Later, the Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir said the government supported the law adviser's statement.
BNP's response
On October 23, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters, "The post of president… is the highest constitutional post.
"If the position becomes vacant suddenly due to a resignation, it would create a 'constitutional vacuum'. Such a situation could trigger a national crisis, and if that crisis delays or disrupts the path to a democratic transition, it would not serve the nation's interest."
On October 28, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said no rash decision should be made about the president's removal.
"To consolidate, and secure the gains of this people's uprising, we must act through a proper constitutional process, avoiding any rash or impulsive decisions."
Mass uprising was explosion of people's anger: President
Marking the anniversary of the July mass uprising on August 5 2024, President Shahabuddin said, "The uprising reflected the frustration of the young generation and the people after years of deprivation, corruption, looting, enforced disappearances, killings, and the denial of voting rights.
"The goal was to dismantle a discriminatory fascist system and restore democracy, empower the people, and ensure freedom of expression. To build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh, fascism must be uprooted and the spirit of July must be fully implemented."
The recent remarks of President Shahabuddin have drawn mixed reactions, with many looking at it from different perspectives.
The removal of his portraits from Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad has only added fuel to the ongoing debate.
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