Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday said the interim government does not see the demand for President Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu’s resignation as a "legal or constitutional" issue, but rather a political one, and a decision in this regard will be taken on the basis of a political consensus.
“It's a political issue. Since it is a political issue, we are not seeing it as a legal or constitutional issue. Discussions are underway with the political parties," Rizwana said.
Briefing the media at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday’s meeting of the Council of Advisers, she said there is a demand for the resignation of the president and it is getting stronger.
The adviser said the political parties need to make their position clear on the demand for the president’s resignation.
She said the political parties have not clearly conveyed their position or decision to the government.
Asked about how much time it might take to reach a consensus, Rizwana said it depends on the political parties. "It cannot be said that we are in a hurry, but at the same time, there is no scope to delay it."
Noting that the current government is the result of a mass uprising, Rizwana said they are not in a “normal situation”, and are compelled to think whether everything can be maintained in line with the constitution.
“The key thing is that we are seeing this (demand for president’s resignation) as a political issue,” she said.
The Adviser said issues related to the President were discussed in the meeting of the Council of Advisers with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
She said what the President said has been brought to their attention in the meeting and some political parties are also talking about a constitutional crisis.
Some leaders of a party have said that if the president resigns, there will be a constitutional vacuum, Rizwana said.
“Again, some of the political parties have said that there will be no political crisis. This has been discussed among us. The demand is that the President must resign,” she said.
Regarding the decision of age limit for the government jobs, she said it might take three-four working days to issue a gazette following relevant process.
Rizwana also said no one will be able to take the BCS exam more than three times.
The adviser said Chhatra League, student wing of Bangladesh Awami League, has been banned as a terrorist organization. However, they have not decided to ban Awami League or any other organization, she said.
There is also no initiative to confiscate the assets of the banned organization for now, she mentioned.
Rizwana also said that this time no one will be able to go to perform Hajj at government expenses. She, however, said the cost of performing Hajj will be reduced this time and the Hajj package will be announced by this month.
Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present.