The ongoing "speculation" about President Mohammed Shahabuddin's reported "second home' is a very sensitive issue and it falls on the shoulders of authorities concerned to look into it, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today (9 September).
He made the remark amid the ongoing discussions circulating on social media about President Md Shahabuddin's alleged second home in Malaysia.
He expressed this view while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
When asked if it is constitutionally possible for the president to have a second home in Malaysia, and if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of this matter and whether the documents will be verified, Touhid Hossain said that the Foreign Ministry has no related tasks in this regard. The ministry cannot act based on speculation.
The adviser added: "This is a matter concerning the president. It's very sensitive. Let the relevant authorities handle it. Even if the Foreign Ministry becomes involved, it will be at the final stage, and it will be dealt with accordingly. I really don't want to comment on this matter. There are legal aspects involved, as well as personal matters of the president. It’s not my job to interfere with this."
When asked if the president is a citizen of Malaysia and whether the Foreign Ministry will inquire with the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia, Touhid Hossain replied: "I will not ask the Bangladesh Embassy in Malaysia based on speculation."
In response to whether a person can remain president after obtaining a second home, he said: "You should ask the legal advisor about that."
Discussions on social media have been sparked recently after a Facebook post by UK-based journalist Zulkarnain Saer.
In the post, Saer shared several images on his verified Facebook page, claiming that Bangladesh’s current president, Md. Shahabuddin, has a second home abroad.
