Mohammed Shahabuddin resigns as Bangladesh president, citing illness
Bangladesh’s president quit two years before his term ended, citing illness as opponents pressed him to leave office.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Mohammed Shahabuddin resigns as Bangladesh’s president two years before his five-year term was due to expire, citing health problems, Al Jazeera reported Friday. The departure comes as opposition parties had been increasing pressure on the 76-year-old head of state to leave office.
Shahabuddin said medical tests found that he has autonomic neuropathy, according to a statement released by his press secretary. He said the condition can cause brief episodes in which he loses consciousness.
In a letter sent Friday to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Shahabuddin said he was seriously ill and unable to carry out the duties of the constitutional office, according to Al Jazeera. The Associated Press reported that Ahmed accepted the resignation.
Why did Mohammed Shahabuddin resign?
Shahabuddin gave health as the reason for stepping down. When asked by Dhaka-based The Daily Star about his decision, he said he was dealing with several medical complications and had nothing further to add at that time.
The resignation also follows political pressure and media scrutiny. The Daily Star reported that Shahabuddin had spoken by phone with ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while he was in the United Kingdom for medical treatment in May; Shahabuddin denied that report, according to Al Jazeera.
He traveled to London on May 9 and returned to Bangladesh on May 18, Al Jazeera reported.
Who runs Bangladesh until a new president is elected?
The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh’s national parliament, will perform the president’s duties until lawmakers choose a successor, according to the statement from Shahabuddin’s office. The constitution requires a new president to be elected within 90 days.
Shahabuddin’s spokesperson, Sarwar Alam, said the resignation takes effect once a signed letter is submitted to the speaker, according to Al Jazeera.
Bangladesh’s presidency is largely ceremonial. The president is the head of state, while executive authority lies with the prime minister and the cabinet.
What role did Shahabuddin play after Sheikh Hasina was ousted?
Shahabuddin had served as president since April 2023, with a term scheduled to run until 2028. His presidency covered a turbulent period after Hasina was removed from power in August 2024 by youth protesters and before a caretaker government was formed days later, according to Al Jazeera.
Hasina is living in exile in New Delhi, India. Reuters reported that she is expected to return to Bangladesh in December and had reported Thursday that Shahabuddin was expected to resign.
Al Jazeera said Shahabuddin’s exit leaves Hasina without allies in high office five months before her planned return. The practical powers of the presidency, however, remain limited under Bangladesh’s system because the prime minister and cabinet hold executive authority.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.