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Published : 26 Jul 2026, 02:30 PM
The allegations raised by Opposition parties against outgoing president Mohammed Shahabuddin do not warrant official consideration, says Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad.
Commenting on the current political situation following the 2024 July Uprising, the minister said political parties and individuals have the freedom to express their views and stage protests.
"Following the mass uprising, we expect people to have the freedom to speak politically and the freedom to protest. That freedom exists.
“Political parties, including the NCP and others in the Opposition, have raised some allegations against him. They are free to do so. There is nothing in those allegations that merits official consideration."
The home minister made the remarks on Sunday while responding to journalists' questions after attending an award ceremony at the Secretariat recognising police officers for acts of bravery and commendable service.
Shahabuddin stepped down on health grounds, and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed the role of acting president.
In his resignation letter, Shahabuddin said he was suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney complications.
He also disclosed that he had previously undergone bypass surgery and had recently been diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy.
He wrote that his deteriorating physical and mental condition had made it impossible for him to continue carrying out the duties of the presidency and that he required long-term medical treatment.
Following his resignation, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and Inquilab Moncho demanded that Shahabuddin be arrested and brought to trial.
However, speaking to the media after leaving office, Shahabuddin dismissed those calls, citing Article 51 of Bangladesh's Constitution.
Article 51 grants the president two key protections. First, a president cannot be held accountable in court for actions taken or omitted in the exercise of official duties.
Second, while in office, no criminal proceedings may be initiated or continued against the president, nor may any warrant for arrest or imprisonment be issued.
Addressing the issue on Sunday, the home minister said Shahabuddin had discharged his constitutional responsibilities in accordance with the law.
"He performed his duties in line with the rules and regulations. We received the president's cooperation. For the period during which he served as president, he is entitled to the constitutional privileges given to that office, and there can be no discussion of criminal proceedings in relation to that period.
"If anyone wishes to make allegations concerning any period outside those constitutional protections, they are free to do so. But we do not see anything that warrants official consideration."
The minister added that Shahabuddin would receive all legal entitlements available to a former president, including six months of security protection by the Special Security Force (SSF) under existing regulations.
Additional security would also be provided by police and other state agencies, he said.
Separately, Salahuddin said the government had postponed the presentation of police medals that had been scheduled during Police Week in May after irregularities were found in the selection process.
"The list of police medal recipients was prepared in great haste. During our review, we found several errors as well as some irregularities," he said.
He said the list would be thoroughly reviewed and corrected before the awards are presented at a later date.
Asked about a remark by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Oli Ahmad, who said the current government "would not survive a week" if three political leaders united, he declined to respond directly.
"We will wait and see what he says after one week," the home minister said.
