By Afshain Afzal

Extensive coverage by Indian media channels and its affiliates misled the world that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed issued her first statement from India after her resignation blaming the US for her ouster. There is no doubt, still the whereabouts of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is not known. The fact remains that neither she opted to proceed to India nor she resigned from the premiership. The helicopter and transport aircraft the story is without foundation. Careful observation of the video clip attributed to PM Hasina and her sister fleeing for India proves that PM Hasina or her sister were not the ladies seen in white Saree in the video as neither the physique was matching PM Hasina nor being a 77 year old PM Hasina can mount on a SUV by standing on the pedestal as shown in the video. Statements of her son who is in US cannot be considered unless the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirms her official status as Prime Minister of a sovereign country and her video of her presence in the Indian capital is released. There are rumours that New Delhi has conspired to kill two birds with one stone, in the same manner New Delhi did in 1971. She is a brave lady and cannot run away like this leaving her country and nation at the crossroad.

The Constitution of the People‌‌‍’s Republic of Bangladesh, Part IV, Chapter II, Article 57 provides: (1) The office of the Prime Minister shall become vacant– (a) if he resigns from office at any time by placing his resignation in the hands of the President, 2) If the Prime Minister ceases to retain the support of a majority of the members of Parliament, he shall either resign his office or advise the President in writing to dissolve Parliament, and if he so advises the President shall, if he is satisfied that no other member of Parliament commands the support of the majority of the members of Parliament, dissolve Parliament accordingly. Similarly, Part IXA Article 141A provides: (1) If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists in which the security or economic life of Bangladesh, or any part thereof, is threatened by war or external aggression or internal disturbance, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency for one hundred twenty days, provided that such Proclamation shall require for its validity the prior counter signature of the Prime Minister. Since PM Hasina did not present her resignation to the President, nor she lost the support of a majority of the members of Parliament and the President of Bangladesh did not impose an emergency, which was counter signature of the Prime Minister so PM Hasina is still the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and there is no provision of re-elections.