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Dhaka: Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of former President Mohammad Shahabuddin, saying his resignation alone is insufficient and that all allegations against him must be independently investigated.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the party’s Ameer, Maulana Mamunul Haque, and Secretary General, Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, said Shahabuddin should face legal proceedings following a neutral inquiry into the accusations against him.
The leaders argued that after the July mass uprising that led to the fall of the previous government, Shahabuddin had lost the moral and political legitimacy to remain in office. They noted that several political parties and participants in the uprising had demanded his resignation from that time.
The statement also alleged that the BNP initially refrained from supporting calls for Shahabuddin’s resignation for political reasons. According to the leaders, his eventual resignation following the BNP’s change in position has raised public questions over whether political calculations influenced the timing of his departure.
They further accused Shahabuddin of giving contradictory statements regarding the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that his inconsistent remarks had misled the public and cast doubt on his neutrality and commitment to constitutional responsibilities.
The Khelafat Majlis leaders also claimed that Shahabuddin faces allegations of abuse of state power, constitutional violations, and involvement in several controversial activities. They additionally called for an investigation into claims that he assisted the S. Alam Group in alleged banking irregularities and financial misconduct.
“Resignation alone does not absolve him of responsibility,” the statement said, urging authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into all allegations and prosecute him in accordance with the law if evidence supports the claims.
The party also called on the government to take swift legal action against all individuals accused of abusing state power, violating the Constitution, using state institutions for partisan interests, and depriving citizens of their rights during the previous administration.