Opposition leader and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Shafiqur Rahman, said his party could not listen to the president’s speech in parliament, alleging the head of state was “guilty on three counts.”
He made the remarks on Thursday (12 March) while speaking to journalists outside parliament after opposition lawmakers staged a walkout during the presidential address.
“The president is guilty on three counts. We cannot listen to his speech in this great parliament,” Shafiqur Rahman said.
He added that the current parliament “stands on the blood of the July martyrs” and that the opposition had earlier requested that individuals linked to what they described as the former “fascist government” should not address the assembly.
Shafiqur Rahman outlined three allegations against Mohammed Shahabuddin.
First, he said the president did not take a stand against killings that occurred in the past and failed to protest or take action despite being the guardian of the state.
Second, he accused the president of contradicting his own statement regarding the events of 5 August 2024. According to the Jamaat leader, the president had earlier said in a national address that the then prime minister had resigned and that he accepted it, but later denied that claim in media interviews.
Third, he alleged that the president did not convene the Reform Council session within 30 days of the gazette publication, as mentioned in an ordinance following the July uprising.
Shafiqur Rahman further claimed that about 70 percent of people voted “yes” in a referendum, but the president failed to act accordingly, which he said amounted to disrespecting the public mandate.
“We left the parliament in protest. If any injustice happens in the future, we will oppose it and continue to fight for the rights of the people,” he said.
He also alleged that the opposition had requested the ruling side to halt the president’s speech, but their appeal was not accepted, prompting them to walk out of the session.
