The NCP and several other opposition political parties have been demanding the swift arrest of the recently resigned president Md Sahabuddin. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, however, said the government has for now seen nothing in this worth taking up.
He said: “Those who are now making statements against him (the former president) have the right to do so. What do we expect in the period after a mass uprising? That politically there will be freedom for people to speak, freedom to protest. That exists — various political parties, and from the opposition the NCP and others, are raising some allegations against him. They may do that. But there is nothing in it worth our taking up.”
He made the remarks in reply to journalists’ questions after a programme on “awards and honours in recognition of police bravery and commendable work” at the home ministry’s meeting room at the secretariat at noon today, Sunday.
Outgoing president Sahabuddin will also be given ‘protection and security’
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the constitution gives the president special privileges, as a result of which criminal cases cannot be brought against him in court. There is also a provision for giving the president “protection and security” for a specified period after leaving office. On that basis, the recently resigned president Md Sahabuddin will also be given “protection and security.”
He said: “He (Md Sahabuddin) discharged his duties constitutionally and did so in accordance with the rules and regulations. We received the president’s cooperation. Now, for that period, under the constitution he is privileged and has immunity; no case can be brought in any court on matters such as criminal offences.”
On “protection and security” for the recently departed president Md Sahabuddin, the minister said he will certainly get whatever benefits he is lawfully entitled to, and that there is a six-month provision for SSF and PGR facilities for his protection. In addition, arrangements for his security will be taken through the police and other agencies.
The home minister also said that day that the government has no specific information that the former president Md Sahabuddin spoke directly by telephone with the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina — ousted through the mass uprising of students and the public — while in London for treatment.
The home minister said: “We have seen it in the newspapers. If some newspaper published such a report, what evidence there is has to be asked of them. We have no such information. And does one have to go to London to talk? In today’s world of the internet you do not have to go to London to talk to someone; that seems fanciful to me. If you want to talk, you can talk from here too.”
Earlier, on 23 July, a national daily had published a report saying that the former president Md Sahabuddin had gone to the United Kingdom (London) while under treatment and held a telephone conversation with the ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Before taking office as president, Md Sahabuddin had served as an administrative officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and of a bank. If there are allegations against him on any specific matter from that time, the home minister said, they will proceed under the country’s existing law. He noted: “Did anyone bring any allegation against him while he was discharging duties at that time? If they did, and if anything was recorded at that time, that is a matter for that time; it will proceed according to the rules and regulations, according to the law.”
The home minister also confirmed that the recently resigned president Md Sahabuddin will receive, as per the rules, all the facilities and security he is legally entitled to under the constitution.
He said there is a specific six-month legal provision, including SSF and PGR, for the special protection of a former head of state. He will receive the full benefit of that six months of security as per the rules. In addition, the necessary arrangements for his security will be taken by Bangladesh Police and other law-enforcement agencies. He will receive everything he is lawfully entitled to.
Md Sahabuddin served three years and three months as president, having been elected by the Jatiya Sangsad during the government of Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted through the historic mass uprising of students and the public in 2024.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report