The country’s political transition has entered a sensitive phase as BNP, fresh from securing a two-thirds majority in parliament, prepares to form a new government this week.
Even before the cabinet is sworn in and parliament convenes, debate has intensified over whether President Mohammad Shahabuddin — elected with the backing of the previous Awami League-led parliament — will remain in office.
Under Bangladesh’s constitution, the president serves a five-year term. Mohammad Shahabuddin was declared elected on 13 February 2023, meaning he has completed roughly three years of his tenure, with nearly two years remaining.
Constitutional experts note that there are two principal routes should the new parliamentary majority wish to see a change.
The first is voluntary resignation. If the president steps down on his own initiative or agrees to do so following discussions with the new government, parliament could then initiate the process of electing a successor.
The second option is impeachment, which would require formal proceedings in the newly constituted parliament. With a two-thirds majority, BNP would, in theory, have the numbers to pursue such a course.
Legal scholars argue that while impeachment is constitutionally permissible, it is politically weighty and often seen as a last resort, particularly in parliamentary democracies where the presidency is largely ceremonial.
No official decision has been announced regarding the president’s intentions. A source at Bangabhaban, the presidential residence, indicated that if a formal request were made by the new government for him to step aside, the matter would be considered. When contacted directly by TIMES of Bangladesh, President Mohammad Shahabuddin described the issue as “sensitive” and declined to comment further.
Within BNP, views appear divided. Some party figures say that, following established practice, the president would address the first session of the new parliament. After that, they suggest, he could choose to resign, allowing the new legislature to elect a president aligned with the changed parliamentary balance.
Others argue that BNP parliamentary party should first meet after the oath-taking ceremony to determine whether to allow the Awami League-nominated president to complete his full term.
Several senior leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggest that a negotiated resignation would be preferable to impeachment, which they believe could be politically divisive and reputationally costly for both sides.
The debate reflects a broader tension between political symbolism and institutional continuity.
For some within BNP, retaining a president chosen by its predecessor may sit uneasily with the party’s mandate and the scale of its parliamentary victory.
Yet others inside the party caution that forcing a president to resign with less than two years remaining in his term could undermine the new government’s stated commitment to a different political culture.
Moderate voices argue that unless the president himself signals a willingness to step down, pursuing impeachment might appear inconsistent with BNP’s pledge to strengthen democratic norms and respect for institutions.
Although the presidency in Bangladesh is largely ceremonial, the office carries symbolic weight and constitutional functions, including administering oaths and formally appointing the prime minister.
How BNP navigates this issue could serve as an early indicator of its governing style — whether it prioritises consolidation of authority or institutional accommodation.
With the new parliament set to convene shortly, the question of whether President Mohammad Shahabuddin remains in office is likely to shape the tone of Bangladesh’s next political chapter.
