Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned Friday, halfway through his term, with official reasons citing medical issues. The resignation comes amidst a period of significant political upheaval in the South Asian nation following the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Shahabuddin submitted his resignation letter to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who subsequently accepted it. Ahmad confirmed the acceptance in a news briefing later Friday. Shahabuddin, appointed during Hasina's tenure, was considered a close ally. His resignation comes after an 18-month interim rule led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, and a subsequent election that brought a new government headed by Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, to power.
Hasina, Hasina's archrival, stepped down and fled to India in August 2024 after an anti-government movement concluded her 15-year rule. She had been critical of the interim administration. Local media reports, which could not be independently confirmed by The Associated Press, suggested Shahabuddin may have resigned under pressure from the current government. These reports indicated he had spoken by phone with Hasina while seeking medical treatment in London in May.
Protesters who led the uprising against Hasina had branded Shahabuddin a collaborator, demanding his resignation and arrest. A new political party, the National Citizen Party, formed by student leaders of the uprising, has also campaigned against him.
According to the Bangladeshi constitution, the speaker of Parliament assumes the presidency on an interim basis if the president resigns, until lawmakers elect a new president. The National Citizen Party has joined an election alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party.
The president in Bangladesh serves as the head of state, a largely ceremonial role with constitutional responsibilities during political crises. The office also holds command over the armed forces.
Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd president on April 24, 2023. His resignation deprives Hasina of a significant ally. She has indicated to Indian media her intention to return to Bangladesh in December to face charges. India has not complied with extradition requests from both the previous and current Bangladeshi governments.
In November, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina in absentia to death for allegedly ordering a crackdown on the uprising. A United Nations report stated that nearly 1,400 people were killed during that crackdown, while Hasina has denied the charges from exile.