Students and citizens are staging a protest outside Bangabhaban, demanding the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. During the demonstration, they issued an ultimatum that the president must step down within 24 hours.
Another group, called "Inqilab Mancha", is also rallying with the same demand.
The protesters made their announcement at 4:30pm in front of Bangabhaban on Tuesday (22 October).
They declared, "The current President is a close ally of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina. We do not want him to remain in office. We have given him a 24-hour ultimatum to resign from the presidency. If he fails to do so, we know how to remove him from office. If the ultimatum is not met, we will launch a relentless movement."
Bahar Uddin, who claims to have been injured during the student movement against inequality, said, "We will not leave the streets until President Chuppu resigns. He is a liar and a crony of the tyrant Sheikh Hasina. We do not want any accomplice of a dictator to hold this office."
Another protester, Md. Sohag also claimed to have been injured in the student movement.
He added, "We want to see how long Chuppu can stay in Bangabhaban. The injured students are on the streets, while a corrupt crony like President Chuppu lives in comfort inside Bangabhaban. This president is nothing but an agent of India and a loyalist to Sheikh Hasina. He must resign from his position immediately, or else we know how to remove him from Bangabhaban."
Meanwhile, under the banner of "Inqilab Mancha", a group of about fifty individuals gathered outside Bangabhaban, also demanding the immediate resignation of the President.
In response to the announcement of the plan to surround Bangabhaban in demand for President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s removal, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has tightened security in the area.
A large number of police personnel have already been deployed in front of Bangabhaban, and police and army APCs, as well as water cannons, are on standby.
On-site reports reveal that protesters under the banner of the Committee to Safeguard Independence and Sovereignty are stationed at the front of Bangabhaban, delivering speeches and chanting slogans.
Another group of around fifty people, protesting under the "Raktim July 2024" banner, are also demanding the resignation of President Shahabuddin, labelling him as a crony of dictatorship.
When asked about the overall security in the Bangabhaban area, DMP Joint Commissioner Md Faruk Hossain stated, "Instructions have been given to strengthen security in the Bangabhaban area. Accordingly, a large number of police personnel have been deployed. Plainclothes detectives are also on duty, and army and RAB members are assisting the local police to ensure that no untoward incidents occur."
In a recent interview with a media outlet, the president revealed that he had heard of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation but had not received any formal documentation to that effect.
"I have tried my best to collect the resignation papers, but I have failed. Perhaps she has not had the time," said the president.
