Bangladesh government to review status of former president following calls for prosecution
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The Bangladeshi government is actively evaluating calls for legal action against recently resigned President Mohammed Shahabuddin, with Law Minister Asif Nazrul affirming that any decision will be made through a formal, deliberative process. Addressing reporters in Chittagong on Sunday following an event at the District Bar Association, the minister emphasized that while the administration remains sensitive to public demands for accountability, it is committed to ensuring that all legal procedures are handled with due diligence to avoid procedural unfairness.
Addressing the timeline for electing a new head of state, the Law Minister noted that Article 123(2) of the Constitution mandates that a presidential election must be held within 90 days of the vacancy arising from the resignation. Shahabuddin stepped down last Friday citing health concerns, leading to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assuming the role of acting president. Regarding whether the former president faces travel restrictions, the minister stated that such matters involve state security and are handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs, making them too confidential for public disclosure at this stage.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Several political organizations, including the Jatiya Nagorik Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Inqilab Mancha, have formally demanded that the former president be arrested and placed on trial. In response, the Law Minister stated that while these groups are entitled to express their demands, the government will evaluate their legitimacy through appropriate legal channels.
During the event, the Law Minister also addressed broader concerns regarding systemic corruption and the integrity of the judicial process. He challenged critics to identify instances of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, or police-initiated frivolous cases under the current administration, noting that legal safeguards have been strengthened to prevent abuses. He highlighted a report from Time magazine, which indicated that approximately $234 billion was laundered out of Bangladesh over the past 16 years. According to the minister, this massive outflow of capital—facilitated by institutionalized corruption and the exploitation of state development projects—has severely undermined the nation’s economy.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The minister’s remarks came during the inauguration of a five-day training workshop for 1,100 newly enrolled lawyers, an event presided over by Chittagong District Bar Association President Tarik Ahmed. The ceremony was attended by various judicial officials, local administrators, and political leaders, underscoring the government’s focus on legal reform and the restoration of institutional accountability.
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