Mohammad Sahebuddin has become the new resident of Banga Bhawan today taking oath as the 22nd President of the country. He takes office as head of state at a time when there is a growing crisis between political parties ahead of national elections. The root cause of the crisis is the country’s electoral system.
Prothom Alo spoke with the new president on 17 April where issues such as the current political situation and the next general election came up.
President Sahabuddin told Prothom Alo that it is the duty of the Election Commission to create a conducive environment so that people can vote. He will urge the commission to discharge that task conscientiously.
On the question of initiating dialogue between political parties to bridge the existing gap, the new President said he would assess the political situation after taking office and do whatever he can do as President.
The next general election is due within 8 to 9 months. The BNP and other anti-government parties are continuing their agitation demanding a neutral government to oversee the general election. The ruling Awami League says they will hold the elections according to the constitution. In such a situation, experts fear that the ongoing crisis on the electoral system is likely to deepen in the coming days. Many will be watching closely what role the President can play in this regard. Many stakeholders expect him to play a role in creating a conducive environment.
Asked whether he would take any initiative to resolve the political crisis over the electoral system, Sahabuddin said, “I will not say anything about it right now. I will assess the political situation to find out what I can do. I will act accordingly. I personally believe that elections should be fair.
“I will do whatever it takes as president to hold fair, participative and credible national elections,” he said. He hoped that the elections would be held on time.