The civil society, along with students, staged a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar on 22 October. Photo/SAT
Anti-discrimination student movement leaders have slammed President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s remarks about deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter and demanded his immediate removal.
They also urged the government to ban Awami League’s student front Chhatra League as a terrorist group.
Sarjis Alam, one of the coordinators of the movement, questioned the president’s mental health status. “We want to tell [Shahabuddin] Chuppu and other allies of fascists that the students and general people will jointly thwart fascists and killers in Bangladesh,” he said at a rally in Dhaka on Tuesday (October 22).
Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5 after a monthlong protest led by the anti-discrimination student movement. In his address to the nation that night, Shahabuddin confirmed accepting Hasina’s resignation.
He stirred controversy this week after claiming that he did not get any copy of the resignation letter. Bangabhaban later issued a clarification, claiming that media reports quoting the president were creating confusion.
Meanwhile, Sarjis urged the people to unite. “We’re ready to sacrifice eyes, limbs and blood. We’ll fight until the last drop of blood against the fascists disguised as Chhatra League, Jubo League and Awami League,” he said.
Another coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud demanded outlawing Chhatra League within Thursday. He also threatened to lay siege to Bangabhaban if the president does not step down.
“Our revolution will continue until this constitution is scrapped and a new one is made,” he said.
