Staff Correspondent

President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned from office on Friday, citing ill health, bringing an early end to his five-year term that was due to expire in April 2028.

He submitted his resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the afternoon, said his Press Secretary M Sarwar Alam.

Under Article 54 of the Constitution, the Speaker will now act as the acting President until a new head of state is elected.

Around 4:26pm, a vehicle designated for the acting President, along with two Special Security Force (SSF) protocol vehicles, arrived at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

In the letter, Shahabuddin stated that he is seriously ill. “I am suffering from heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney complications. I have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.”

Mentioning that he was diagnosed with a condition known as autonomic neuropathy, he said he occasionally loses consciousness for brief periods as a result of this illness.

“Due to these medical conditions and the resulting physical and mental incapacity, I am no longer able to discharge the responsibilities of the important constitutional office of the President. I require long-term medical treatment,” Shahabuddin said, adding that under these circumstances, he stepped down from the office of the President in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Constitution.

Shahabuddin claimed that he discharged his duties with sincerity, honesty and full allegiance to the Constitution.

Referring to the fall of the Awami League government in the face of the student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, he said the country faced a constitutional and governance crisis at that time.

“With a view to overcoming that constitutional crisis, I, in my capacity as President, sought the opinion of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh under Article 106 of the Constitution. Subsequently, acting on the advice of the Appellate Division, I formed the interim government,” Shahabuddin said.

The interim government, in consultation with political parties, held the general election, he said. “Based on the election results, the present government was formed and is now conducting the affairs of the state. At present, both the ruling party and the opposition are performing their respective responsibilities in Parliament through democratic practices.”

Shahabuddin further claimed that the country did not experience any constitutional breakdown due to his firm and constructive role.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin returned home on Friday after cutting short his visit to Thailand amid growing speculation over the President's resignation.

According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, a new President must be elected within 90 days if the office falls vacant due to resignation, death or removal. Article 48(1) provides that the President is elected by the members of parliament.

Shahabuddin was elected unopposed as Bangladesh's 22nd President with the nomination of the Awami League and took office on April 24, 2023. His constitutional five-year term was scheduled to end in April 2028.

Following the July mass uprising, which led to the fall of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, Shahabuddin remained in office during a period of sweeping political transition, including the dissolution of parliament and the formation of the interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus.

After the uprising, several organisations associated with the July movement and student leaders demanded Shahabuddin's removal, staging demonstrations and programmes, including a siege of Bangabhaban.

However, the interim government did not initiate any move to remove him from office.

The BNP secured a landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12 this year, giving the party the parliamentary majority required to elect a candidate of its choice as the country's next President. 

However, the BNP government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, also did not take any move to remove Shahabuddin from the post. 

With the presidency now vacant, the process of electing a new President is expected to begin in line with the constitutional provisions.