76-year-old former ally of Sheikh Hasina steps down two years early, leaving Parliament Speaker as acting president amid political transition.
Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from office, citing serious health complications that he said have left him physically and mentally incapable of continuing in the largely ceremonial role.
The 76-year-old leader submitted his resignation letter on Friday to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed under Article 50(3) of the constitution, nearly two years before his five-year term was due to end in 2028. The speaker has accepted the resignation and will serve as acting president until a new head of state is elected within 90 days, as required by the constitution.
In his resignation letter and a subsequent statement released by his office, Shahabuddin detailed a range of long-standing and recent medical problems. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney complications, a previous coronary artery bypass surgery, and a recent diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy.
Health Forces Bangladesh President to Resign:
“Recent medical examinations have diagnosed me with a condition known as autonomic neuropathy. Due to this condition, I occasionally experience momentary loss of consciousness,” Shahabuddin said. He added that the progression of these illnesses had made it “no longer possible for me to discharge the responsibilities of the important constitutional office of the president” and that he required long-term medical treatment.
Shahabuddin, a former Supreme Court justice and longtime associate of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had held the presidency since April 2023. His tenure spanned one of the most turbulent periods in Bangladesh’s recent history. In August 2024, mass student-led protests forced Hasina from power and into exile in India. Shahabuddin played a key role in facilitating the formation of an interim government to avert a constitutional vacuum during that crisis.
Shahabuddin Resigns as Bangladesh President:
Although the presidency in Bangladesh is largely ceremonial, with executive authority resting with the prime minister and cabinet, Shahabuddin’s departure removes one of the last remaining high-profile figures linked to Hasina’s Awami League era from a constitutional post. The country has since seen significant political realignment, including elections that brought a BNP-led government to power.
Opposition parties had in recent months increased calls for Shahabuddin to step down. His resignation also comes against the backdrop of speculation about Hasina’s possible return to Bangladesh later this year.
In his letter, Shahabuddin reflected on his time in office, stating that he had served with “honesty, integrity, and full allegiance to the constitution.” He made no direct reference to the political pressures surrounding his exit, focusing instead on his medical condition as the sole reason for leaving.
A new president is expected to be elected by parliament in the coming months. Until then, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will carry out the duties of the office.