Big blow to Bangladesh, President Mohammad Shahabuddin resigns

Bangladesh has suffered a big blow. The President there Mohammad Shahabuddin has resigned by submitting a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament under Article 50(3) of the Constitution on 24 July 2026. His tenure was to end in the year 2028. That means only half of his tenure had passed.

Resigned citing ill health

He has written a letter in Bengali language. On the letter head of Bangabhavan, 76 year old Shahabuddin cited poor health. He said he has heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney problems, previous bypass surgery and a recent diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy, which causes him to have fainting spells. He said that due to long-term treatment it is impossible to continue in this post. In this letter, he has also defended his contribution in rescuing the country from the constitutional crisis that arose after the August 2024 rebellion.

Now this resignation of the President will be handed over to Parliamentary Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed. According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, he will serve as the acting President until the new President is elected. The spokesperson said that he cannot make any official comment on this resignation. If media reports are to be believed, his resignation has come at a time when there was speculation that PM Tariq Rehman’s government was not comfortable with the Titular Head of the country.

President was made in Hasina government
In fact, Shahabuddin, a former soldier of the 1971 liberation war and former lower court judge, took oath for a five-year term in April 2023. He was elected to this highest post by the previous Parliament. He is the only person who still holds a constitutional post. Violent student-led protests in July-August 2024 toppled Hasina’s Awami League government. Hasina had come to India. He is under protection in India since 5 August 2024.