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President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from office, ending days of speculation over his future, with the Parliament Secretariat confirming receipt of his resignation letter on Friday.
Shahabuddin acknowledged his resignation in remarks to several news outlets.
“It’s already public knowledge. What’s the point of hearing it from me? I am sick, so it is done,” he said.
When asked whether he had signed the resignation letter, the president replied, “I’ve already told you. You can understand the rest.”
Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said the resignation letter was received on Friday afternoon. A media briefing has been scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at the Jatiya Sangsad complex to formally announce the acceptance of the resignation.
Speculation over Shahabuddin’s departure had intensified over the past two days amid reports that he was preparing to step down.
Earlier on Friday, Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad returned to Dhaka after cutting short a medical visit to Thailand. He spoke briefly to journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before the Parliament Secretariat announced an urgent press conference at 5:00 p.m. in the Parliament’s Oath Room.
Under the Constitution, the Speaker assumes the responsibilities of Acting President if the office of the President becomes vacant due to resignation, death or any other reason, until a new president is elected.
Accordingly, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is expected to assume the role of Acting President following the formal acceptance of Shahabuddin’s resignation.
Shahabuddin’s resignation marks the end of his tenure as head of state and paves the way for the constitutional process to elect Bangladesh’s next president.
