President Shahabuddin likely to resign Friday

President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to resign on Friday, citing health reasons, according to multiple sources at Bangabhaban.

The president is likely to submit his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament around midday on Friday, a Bangla-language daily reported, quoting officials familiar with the matter.

However, neither the President’s Office nor the government has officially confirmed the reported resignation.

Several Bangabhaban officials, speaking to local media on condition of anonymity, said Shahabuddin is preparing to step down from the country’s highest constitutional office.

Sources also indicated that the government does not expect any last-minute change in the reported plan.

Separately, a senior BNP source claimed the party’s top leadership had conveyed a message to the president urging him to resign.

The claim, however, could not be independently verified.

Under the constitution, if the presidency becomes vacant and a successor is not immediately elected, Speaker of Parliament Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed would assume the responsibilities of acting president until a new head of state is chosen.

Shahabuddin was elected unopposed as Bangladesh’s 22nd president on February 13, 2023, and took office on April 24 that year.

During his presidency, he underwent open-heart surgery at Singapore’s National University Hospital.

He later received emergency angioplasty and a coronary stent in the United Kingdom after doctors detected a critical heart blockage during a routine medical examination.

Following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government during the student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, Shahabuddin played a pivotal constitutional role in overseeing the country’s political transition.

He held consultations with political parties, civil society representatives and student leaders before facilitating the formation of the interim government and administering the oath of office to its members.