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Dhaka: Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who resigned from office on Friday (July 24) citing physical and mental health reasons, will continue to receive several post-retirement benefits under Bangladesh’s existing laws despite stepping down before completing his term.
His resignation letter was submitted to the Speaker of Parliament, who formally accepted it at 5:01 pm. Following the vacancy in the presidency, Speaker of the National Parliament, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, assumed the role of Acting President and will continue in that capacity until a new president is elected.
Shahabuddin, who took office as President on April 24, 2023, qualifies for retirement benefits under The President’s (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1975 (as amended up to May 2016), having served well beyond the required minimum of six months.
According to the law, a president who resigns after serving at least six months, or completes a full term, is entitled to a monthly pension equal to 75 percent of the last monthly salary received while in office for the remainder of their life. With the current presidential salary set at Tk 120,000 per month, Shahabuddin will receive a monthly pension of Tk 90,000.
The law also provides that if a former president was already receiving a pension from a previous government position or employment before assuming the presidency, they may choose to receive either that pension or the presidential pension, but not both.
In the event of the former president’s death while receiving the pension, the surviving spouse—either the widow or, where applicable, the widower—will be entitled to receive two-thirds of the pension as a monthly allowance for the rest of their life.