DHAKA: Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee met senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) politicians on Saturday to demand the resignation of the Bangladesh president, a demand backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon. BNP had earlier said removal of the president might create constitutional and national crises.
They also want the the “proclamation of a second republic”, an idea by Jamaat.
Anti-Discrimination Student Movement convener Hasnat Abdullah, spokesperson Umama Fatema, and chief organiser Abdul Hannan Masud, along with Jatiya Nagorik Committee convener Nasiruddin Patoari, spokesperson Samantha Sharmin, and Akhter Hossain, were present at the meeting with BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and joint general secretary Shaheeduddin Chowdhury Anne accompanied Fakhrul to the meeting. Hasnat Abdullah said Jamaat has made its position clear, that the President has to go. He said they discussed three issues with BNP, including resignation of the president and how a declaration of a second republic can be made. “We discussed how we can build political consensus. BNP leaders listened to us and will discuss this in their party forum.”
