Expressing feeling humiliated by the interim government led by former Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahbuddin said his presidency was repeatedly undermined with a breach of constitutional protocols.
Shahbuddin has spoken to a vernacular daily, Kaler Kantho, in Dhaka, days after a new government took oath in Bangladesh, led by Tariq Rahman. He said that the previous interim government never kept him informed about key state decisions.
He alleged that Yunus never informed him about his foreign visits and agreements, as he attempted to isolate him politically and administratively. “The Constitution says whenever he goes on a foreign visit, he must meet the President after returning and inform me (the President) in writing about the discussions and the outcomes.”
He said that Yunus travelled abroad 14 to 15 times but did not inform him even once. Shahabuddin said that he felt humiliated by the interim government, citing the removal of his press department and portraits from Bangladeshi embassies worldwide.
Speaking further, Shabuddin said he was not even aware of the latest tariff deal between Bangladesh and the United States, with Yunus choosing not to inform him. “I knew nothing about it (the deal). Such a state agreement must be communicated to the President. That is a constitutional obligation,” he said.
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He said that despite being one of the early architects of the interim government, attempts were made to remove him from the Presidential post, “under pressure from certain leaders of the mass uprising.”
He said that there were attempts to remove him and reinstate a former Chief Justice as the President of Bangladesh. That person, however, Shahabuddin said, refused to take up the role.
Speaking about the current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, and his party, BNP, Shahabuddin said he got immense support from Rahman and his party during his ‘tough times'.
“BNP leadership stood firm with me,” Shahabuddin said, “I had a lot of curiosity around BNP Chairman, Tarique Rahman, but with time, I got to know him as a genuine person.”
Shahbuddin said that the now Prime Minister, Rahman, has been very cordial with him during his bad time, and the BNP support was 100 per cent there.
He alleged that his foreign engagements were blocked without consultation, as Yunus tried to keep him away from the public eye. Shahabuddin claimed that he was even asked to sign a letter, refusing an invitation to Qatar.
“I, however, sent a counter letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, questioning the move,” he said, “I strongly condemned such unethical behaviour of the ministry.”
Shahabuddin said he never heard back from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Foreign Affairs advisor on the matter.
Also Read: Tarique Rahman Sworn In As Bangladesh Prime Minister, BNP Returns To Power After Nearly Two Decades
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