Staff Reporter:
President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Friday, bringing an end to weeks of speculation over his future.
Speaking at a press conference at the Jatiya Sangsad on Friday afternoon, Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said Shahabuddin had submitted his resignation letter to him.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Speaker, Shahabuddin said he had served the country with “honesty, devotion and full allegiance to the Constitution” since taking oath as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on 24 April 2023.
The president then referred to the political and constitutional developments following the mass uprising on 5 August 2024.
He said that after the fall of the government, a constitutional crisis emerged in the country.
“With the aim of resolving the crisis, I sought the opinion of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court under Article 106 of the Constitution. Subsequently, an interim government was formed on the advice of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The interim government organised the general election to Parliament in consultation with political parties,” Shahabuddin said.
He wrote, “The current government was formed based on the election results and is running the country, while the ruling and opposition parties are performing their respective roles in Parliament through democratic practices. Due to my firm and constructive role, the country has not faced any constitutional crisis.”
Shahabuddin then referred to his health condition, saying he had been suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney complications. He also said he had been diagnosed with a disease called “autonomic neuropathy”.
“Due to this disease, I sometimes lose consciousness for short periods. Because of the physical and mental incapacity caused by the severity of the diseases, it is not possible for me to perform the duties of an important constitutional office like that of the president. I require long-term medical treatment,” he said.
“Under these circumstances, in accordance with the provisions of Article 50(3) of the Constitution, I am resigning from the office of president,” he said in the letter.
