Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said there is no legal scope to take criminal action against recently outgoing President Md Shahabuddin Chuppu. He made the remarks on Sunday, July 26, while speaking with journalists at the Secretariat about awards and honours for police bravery and commendable work. Ahmed said Chuppu will receive all state facilities, including security, for the next six months under the constitution.

Ahmed said the president served constitutionally during the final phase of autocratic rule, throughout the interim government’s tenure and for about six months of the current government. He said Chuppu performed his duties according to rules and regulations and that the government received the president’s cooperation. During that period, Ahmed said, the president was constitutionally privileged and could not face criminal proceedings or a court case on the matter.

The minister said people were free to make statements about periods outside that time, but the government had found nothing requiring consideration. Asked about a telephone conversation between the former prime minister and the outgoing president, he said communication can take place from anywhere in the world in the internet era, making a claim that travel to London was necessary appear unrealistic to him.